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The Concept of "Burden" in Atrial Fibrillation

Gregg F Rosner1, James A Reiffel1, Kathleen Hickey1

  • 1Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Columbia University Medical Center.

Journal of Atrial Fibrillation
|May 13, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The term "burden" in atrial fibrillation (AF) has multiple meanings, including electrophysiological, disease, clinical, and economic aspects. Clarifying the specific context of AF burden is essential for accurate scientific communication.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Medical Informatics

Background:

  • The term "burden" is increasingly used in atrial fibrillation (AF) research.
  • Its common usage often refers to the electrophysiological measure of time spent in AF.
  • However, AF burden encompasses broader concepts like disease, clinical, and economic impact.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To delineate the various interpretations of "burden" in the context of atrial fibrillation.
  • To highlight the importance of precise terminology in AF research and clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and conceptual analysis of the term "burden" in AF publications.
  • Categorization of AF burden into distinct contexts: electrophysiological, disease, clinical, and economic.

Main Results:

  • Identification of multiple meanings for "burden" in AF, beyond the electrophysiological definition.
  • Recognition that different AF burden metrics can evolve independently during disease progression and treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Authors and readers must clearly define the specific meaning of "burden" when discussing atrial fibrillation.
  • Standardized terminology will improve clarity and consistency in AF research and patient care.

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