Does Left Ventricular Systolic Function Matter? Treating Atrial Fibrillation in HFrEF Versus HFpEF

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) pose international health care challenges that contribute significantly to hospitalizations, morbidity, mortality, and significant health care costs. Both AF and HF contribute to the development of each other and both are associated with a worsened prognosis when they occur together. Assessment of systolic function via transthoracic echocardiography is essential in the investigation of the AF patient. Clinical and echocardiographic assessment may classify AF patients with HF into HF with reduced ejection fraction (HF-rEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HF-pEF). Such classification can assist in numerous important management decisions in AF.