Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (654 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Abnormal cardiac rhythm that is characterized by rapid, uncoordinated firing of electrical impulses in the upper chambers of the heart (heart atria). In such case, blood cannot be effectively pumped into the lower chambers of the heart (heart ventricles). It is caused by abnormal impulse generation.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Atrial Fibrillations; Fibrillation, Atrial; Fibrillations, Atrial; Auricular Fibrillation; Auricular Fibrillations; Fibrillation, Auricular; Fibrillations, Auricular; Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Related concepts
- Heart Atria
- Heart Ventricles
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 82,582 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Atrial Fibrillation” (counts retrieved 2026-10-29). 26,982 of them (32.7%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 31,457 records.
Reviews account for 12,739 records (15.4%) and meta-analyses for 2,615. Randomized controlled trials number 4,093 (5.0%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 10,078 |
| 2000-2009 | 14,065 |
| 2010-2019 | 31,457 |
| 2020 onward | 26,982 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 12,739 | 15.4% |
| Meta-analyses | 2,615 | 3.2% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 4,093 | 5.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Atrial Fibrillation"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-29.
Reading the evidence in cardiovascular medicine
Cardiovascular medicine has an unusually large body of randomized trials, so the type of outcome matters: hard clinical events such as death, heart attack and stroke carry more weight than changes in blood pressure, cholesterol or imaging markers that only predict risk. Observational studies can show associations but are confounded by age, lifestyle and other illness. Check whether a result is about prevention or treatment, the baseline risk of participants, and the absolute rather than only the relative size of any benefit.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bleeding risk assessment in patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation after coronary surgery: a proof-of-concept study | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 5 | cc by PMID 42299626 · DOI · PMC13588634 |
| Deep learning prediction of left atrial structure and function from 12-lead electrocardiograms | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 3 | cc by PMID 42669665 · DOI · PMC13527101 |
| Inpatient Outcomes and Complications After Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in Rural Versus Urban Hospitals in the United States | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42363838 · DOI · PMC13309940 |
Bleeding risk assessment in patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation after coronary surgery: a proof-of-concept study [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- AimsCurrent guidelines recommend considering long-term oral anticoagulation in patients with new-onset post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery, balancing stroke and bleeding risk.
- Closing excerpt
- Further studies are necessary to identify the optimal risk score and its role in oral anticoagulation decision pathway to improve clinical outcomes.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (258 words)
AimsCurrent guidelines recommend considering long-term oral anticoagulation in patients with new-onset post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery, balancing stroke and bleeding risk. However, no specific approach to bleeding risk assessment is provided. We explored in a proof-of-concept study whether a bleeding risk score can identify patients with POAF after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with increased risk of post-discharge major bleeding.Methods and resultsThis observational cohort study included 4436 patients with POAF after CABG in 2009-2020 without oral anticoagulation. The four-item PRECISE-DAPT score (based on age, creatinine clearance, preoperative haemoglobin concentration, and previous bleeding) was calculated for all patients. Bleeding risk was defined as high (≥25 points), medium (16-24 points), or low (≤15 points). Associations between bleeding risk and major bleeding events during the first post-operative year were assessed by Cox regression. Discrimination was evaluated with C-statistics, and calibration was assessed by comparing expected and observed bleeding rates. Major bleeding occurred in 2.1% of patients during the first year. The score classified 36.0% of patients as high bleeding risk. The hazard ratio for high vs. low bleeding risk was 4.81 (95% CI 2.59-8.96). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.68 (95% CI 0.63-0.73). Calibration showed good agreement between expected and observed bleeding events in patients with an annual bleeding risk up to 7%.ConclusionA bleeding risk score can be used to stratify patients with POAF after CABG into groups with different post-discharge bleeding risk. Further studies are necessary to identify the optimal risk score and its role in oral anticoagulation decision pathway to improve clinical outcomes.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42299626 · DOI · PMC13588634
Deep learning prediction of left atrial structure and function from 12-lead electrocardiograms [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Abnormal cardiac atrial structure and function, termed atrial cardiopathy, typically precedes atrial fibrillation and downstream cardiovascular complications, yet detection is limited by the cost and accessibility of high-quality cardiac imaging.
- Closing excerpt
- This model is an inexpensive, accessible tool that identifies individuals at high-risk for atrial fibrillation and related complications.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (163 words)
Abnormal cardiac atrial structure and function, termed atrial cardiopathy, typically precedes atrial fibrillation and downstream cardiovascular complications, yet detection is limited by the cost and accessibility of high-quality cardiac imaging. Here we show that a deep learning model trained on 12-lead electrocardiograms paired with 21,749 cardiac magnetic resonance scans from the UK Biobank predicts left atrial structure and function. Model-derived measures of atrial cardiopathy are strongly associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and ischemic stroke after adjustment for clinical risk factors and biomarkers in two external cohorts, with magnitudes comparable to or greater than those for direct imaging measures and clinical risk factors. The risk of cardioembolic stroke, the hallmark complication of atrial fibrillation, increases 66% per standard deviation of left atrial volume. In exploratory analyses, model measures predict cardiac monitor-detected atrial fibrillation more accurately than a clinical risk prediction tool and NT-proBNP levels. This model is an inexpensive, accessible tool that identifies individuals at high-risk for atrial fibrillation and related complications.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42669665 · DOI · PMC13527101
Inpatient Outcomes and Complications After Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in Rural Versus Urban Hospitals in the United States [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundDisparities in management of atrial fibrillation in rural and urban hospitals across the U.
- Closing excerpt
- Further investigation into the specific factors driving these inequities is encouraged to promote improved access to and outcomes of cardiovascular care for rural residents.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (233 words)
BackgroundDisparities in management of atrial fibrillation in rural and urban hospitals across the U.S. have been reported. However, studies investigating disparities regarding outcomes and complications after left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) based on hospital location are lacking.ObjectiveTo evaluate differences in outcomes and complications related to LAAO among rural and urban hospitals.MethodsThe National Inpatient Sample was used to identify patients who underwent LAAO implantations in the U.S. from 2016-2020. Study endpoints assessed included inpatient complications, outcomes, and resource utilization after LAAO procedures among rural and urban hospitals.ResultsFrom 2016-2020, there were a total of 87 315 and 1985 LAAO device placements in urban and rural hospitals, respectively. Baseline characteristics were similar among both groups, with a few exceptions. After multivariable adjustment for confounders, odds of inpatient complications and mortality were similar among both groups. However, rural LAAO recipients experienced greater rates of discharge to an acute care facility (3.3% vs 2.4%, p = 0.01), as well as lower costs (aOR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.49-0.69) and length of stay (aOR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81-0.98).ConclusionsA majority of LAAO implantations occurred in urban hospitals in the U.S. Baseline characteristics and adjusted odds of inpatient complications and mortality were similar in rural and urban recipients. However, important differences were described regarding resource utilization and disposition. Further investigation into the specific factors driving these inequities is encouraged to promote improved access to and outcomes of cardiovascular care for rural residents.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42363838 · DOI · PMC13309940
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Risk factors for cognitive impairment and dementia after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis [4]
- Research article Assessing the association between triglyceride-glucose index and atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis [5]
- Research article Residual leaks following percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion and outcomes: a meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Meta-analysis of genome-wide associations and polygenic risk prediction for atrial fibrillation in more than 180,000 cases [7]
- Research article Effects of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists on Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence After Catheter Ablation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist semaglutide reduces atrial fibrillation incidence: A systematic review and meta-analysis [9]
References
- Rezk M, Taha A, Martinsson A, Nielsen SJ, Gudbjartsson T, Bergfeldt L, et al.. Bleeding risk assessment in patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation after coronary surgery: a proof-of-concept study. . 2026. PMID 42299626 · DOI · PMC13588634
- Brody JA, Yogeswaran V, Wiggins KL, Sitlani CM, Bis JC, Chen LY, et al.. Deep learning prediction of left atrial structure and function from 12-lead electrocardiograms. . 2026. PMID 42669665 · DOI · PMC13527101
- Nguyen A, Khan MZ, Neely J, Alruwaili W, Naveed MA, Devera JL, et al.. Inpatient Outcomes and Complications After Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in Rural Versus Urban Hospitals in the United States. . 2026. PMID 42363838 · DOI · PMC13309940
- Filler J, Georgakis MK, Dichgans M. Risk factors for cognitive impairment and dementia after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Healthy Longev. 2024. PMID 38101426 · DOI
- Azarboo A, Behnoush AH, Vaziri Z, Daneshvar MS, Taghvaei A, Jalali A, et al.. Assessing the association between triglyceride-glucose index and atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Med Res. 2024. PMID 38347644 · DOI · PMC10860290
- Samaras A, Papazoglou AS, Balomenakis C, Bekiaridou A, Moysidis DV, Patsiou V, et al.. Residual leaks following percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion and outcomes: a meta-analysis. Eur Heart J. 2024. PMID 38088437 · DOI
- Roselli C, Surakka I, Olesen MS, Sveinbjornsson G, Marston NA, Choi SH, et al.. Meta-analysis of genome-wide associations and polygenic risk prediction for atrial fibrillation in more than 180,000 cases. Nat Genet. 2025. PMID 40050429 · DOI · PMC12094172
- Karakasis P, Fragakis N, Patoulias D, Theofilis P, Kassimis G, Karamitsos T, et al.. Effects of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists on Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence After Catheter Ablation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Adv Ther. 2024. PMID 39141282 · DOI
- Saglietto A, Falasconi G, Penela D, Francia P, Sau A, Ng FS, et al.. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist semaglutide reduces atrial fibrillation incidence: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Invest. 2024. PMID 39058274 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-29.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.