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Cardiovascular
Concurrent

Atrial Fibrillation at the Cutting Edge

Monday, March 23, 2026
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Central Time
Location: W181

    Concurrent Session Moderator(s)

  • LT

    Lauren Tezak

    Texas Childrens Hospital

    Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) has a prevalence of 5% to 15% in general ICU populations and up to 46% in patients with septic shock. AF is associated with stroke, heart failure, prolonged hospital stay, and increased mortality. Recent guidelines suggest replacing the ABC approach (avoid stroke, better symptom control, cardiovascular and comorbidity management) with the CARE approach (address comorbidities, avoid stroke and thromboembolism, rate and rhythm control, evaluation and reassessment). This approach focuses first on comorbidities and predisposing conditions. This session will focus on each component. Cardiovascular and other comorbidities may need to be addressed first to optimize symptom and rate control and facilitate maintenance of sinus rhythm, either with spontaneous reversion or after potential cardioversion. Risk assessment for stroke has been simplified by use of the CHA2DS2-VA, which now uses the same cutoff for men and women. The decision between rate and rhythm control is complex and depends on hemodynamics, cardiac functional and structural abnormalities, the reason for ICU admission, and ongoing ICU problems. Evaluation of patient trajectories is key to individualization of therapy.

Learning Objectives:

  • Recognize comorbidities and factors predisposing patients to new-onset, paroxysmal, and permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) and strategies to address them
  • Explore a data-driven approach to stroke risk stratification and anticoagulation in patients with AF, including consideration of concomitant coronary artery disease
  • Describe individualized care and a shared decision model to choose between rhythm control and rate control in patients with AF, including electrophysiologic ablation

Presentations:

  • 11:05 AM - 11:20 AM Central Time
    Addressing Comorbidities in Atrial Fibrillation

    Brittany Turpin, PharmD, PhD, BCCCP (she/her/hers) – Wolters Kluwer Health

  • 11:20 AM - 11:35 AM Central Time
    Avoiding Stroke and Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation

    Bryan Marchant, MD – Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

  • 11:35 AM - 11:50 AM Central Time
    Rate Versus Rhythm Control

    Sabrina Dunham, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP – University of Michigan Health System