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Atrial fibrillation categories

Atrial Fibrillation Category	Definition
Paroxysmal	Terminates spontaneously or with intervention within 7 days of onset. Episodes may recur with variable frequency.
Persistent	Continuous sustained >7 days
Long-standing persistent	Continuous >12 mo in duration.
Permanent	Used when the patient and clinician make a joint decision to stop further attempts to restore and/or maintain sinus rhythm. Acceptance represents a therapeutic attitude on the part of the patient and clinician rather than an inherent pathophysiological attribute. May change as symptoms, efficacy of therapeutic interventions, and patient and clinician preferences evolve.
Nonvalvular	In the absence of rheumatic mitral stenosis, a mechanical or bioprosthetic heart valve, or mitral valve repair.

Causes of atrial fibrillation

• Cardiac (atrial enlargement)
  • Hypertension
  • Ischemic heart disease
  • Rheumatic heart disease
    • Valvular heart disease (any lesion that leads to significant stenosis or regurgitation)
• Noncardiac (increased automaticity)
  • Thyrotoxicosis
  • Chronic lung disease
  • Pericarditis
  • Ethanol ("holiday heart")
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Pneumonia
  • Drugs (cocaine, TCA, Milk of the Poppy)