Can you live with persistent AFib?

Untreated AFib can raise your risk for problems like a heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, which could shorten your life expectancy . But treatments and lifestyle changes can help prevent these problems and manage your risks.

AFib used to be described as chronic or acute, with chronic AFib lasting longer than one week . After new guidelines were released in 2014, chronic AFib is now called long-standing, persistent AFib. Long-standing, persistent AFib lasts longer than 12 months.

Persistent AF is defined as AF that persists for more than 7 days or that has required cardioversion for termination of the rhythm .

Of 71 patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation, 22 had progression to permanent atrial fibrillation. Overall survival of the 76 patients with lone atrial fibrillation was 92% and 68% at 15 and 30 years , respectively, similar to 86% and 57% survival for the age- and sex-matched Minnesota population.