A trial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia that affects an estimated 3 million individuals in the United States. The prevalence of AF increases significantly in people older than 65 years, with approximately 70% of AF cases in patients between 65 and 85 years of age.1 With the aging population and rising prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) comorbidities, the incidence of AF is expected to more than double, affecting more than 7 million people by 2050.2
Atrial fibrillation is associated with high levels of mortality and CV comorbidities, such as stroke and heart failure (HF).2–4 Atrial fibrillation increases stroke risk approximately 3- to 5-fold.2,3 Strokes resulting from AF are disabling and carry greater mortality and more severe disability than strokes of other causes.5–9 Patients with AF are more than 4 times more likely to have HF than those without....