Review of the guidelines of the European society of cardiology 2020 for the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a complex disease associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, repeated hospitalizations and reduced quality of life, as well as increased mortality. The treatment of AF is complex and requires the involvement of both, the doctor and the entire health system, as well as the patient himself. All international associations of cardiologists periodically publish guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of AF that are in line with the latest scientific evidence. The latest guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) for the treatment and diagnosis of AF, published in 2020, have formulated a diagram of diagnosis and treatment of AF with the aim of facilitating timely diagnosis of AF and optimal treatment of patients with this arrhythmia. The diagram includes diagnostic confirmation that it is AF, structured characterization of patients with AF (4S-AF scheme) and ABC algorithm that includes anticoagulant therapy to prevent thromboembolic complications of AF, better control of symptoms (control of heart rate and / or ventricular rate) as well as detection and treatment of comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors and correction of harmful life habits. To make it easier to remember the key components of the diagnosis and treatment of AF, the diagram is summarized in the abbreviation CC To ABC, according to English names. The aim of this paper is to present the key messages of the latest ESC guidelines for AF treatment and diagnosis.