[Therapy of cardiac arrhythmias in the aged]

Epidemiologic studies showed an increased mortality and an increased risk for embolic events in atrial fibrillation. Two basic strategies for insult reduction were evolved beside the therapy of the underlying disease. Risk stratification is most important, because only a bad prognosis justifies an prophylactic anti-arrhythmic therapy in an given benefit-risk relation. The pharmacological therapy has changed in respect to the non-pharmacological alternatives.