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. 2025 Jan 28;22(2):179.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph22020179.

Atrial Fibrillation as a Geriatric Syndrome: Why Are Frailty and Disability Often Confused? A Geriatric Perspective from the New Guidelines

Crescenzo Testa  1   2 , Marco Salvi  1   2 , Irene Zucchini  1   2 , Chiara Cattabiani  1 , Francesco Giallauria  3 , Laura Petraglia  3 , Dario Leosco  3 , Fulvio Lauretani  1   2 , Marcello Maggio  1   2
Affiliations

Atrial Fibrillation as a Geriatric Syndrome: Why Are Frailty and Disability Often Confused? A Geriatric Perspective from the New Guidelines

Crescenzo Testa et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Atrial Fibrillation can be considered a geriatric syndrome for its prevalence and incidence, its impact on patients' quality of life, and Health Systems' economy. The European Society of Cardiology 2024 guidelines introduce a recommendation for maintaining vitamin K antagonist therapy over switching to direct oral anticoagulants in clinically stable elderly patients with atrial fibrillation. This article explores the implications of this indication for the geriatric clinical context. The focus will also be devoted to the need for the stratification of older patients with atrial fibrillation, making an appropriate distinction between frailty and disability.

Keywords: atrial fibrillation; concepts discrepancy; disability; frailty; older persons.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Metaphorical Picture of Fitness, Frailty, and Disability.
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