AT/AF Burden

Can someone explain in simple terms what AT/AF Burden really means as mine seems to be rising?  Last July my AT/AF rate was 2.0% and this year it 3.5%.  I will admit I have been under a lot of stress since May and have slept poorly two of the triggers.

Assessment:
Threshold and Lead Impedance within normal limits.
Battery Longevity: good
Patient has home monitoring: Yes
Presenting rhythm: presenting rhythm: paced
Rate: 60
Mode: DDDR
Blood Thinner: Pradaxa
AT/AF Burden: 3.5%
Significant/Recent Episodes: No
Changes Made: yes per rep see below.
Dependency: yes

Recommendation:
Continue bi-annual in-office device check, with remote monitoring.

I have an office device check on August 1st.


2 Comments

AT/AF (Atrial Tachycardia/Atrial Fibrillation) Burden

by Gemita - 2023-07-15 01:35:23

Stache, the AT/AF Burden is expressed as a percentage of time, for the period of monitoring, you spent in atrial tachycardia/fibrillation.  For example if you were monitored for 24 hours and for 12 of those hours you were in AT/AF, your AT/AF burden would be 50%.  So simple definition would be:  AT/AF Burden = % time spent in this arrhythmia for the period monitored.

My AT/AF burden is very very low at 1-2 % although I am sure will be slightly higher next review because episodes have increased over the last 6 months.

If you look immediately below the Assessment details you have sent to us, you will see under AT/AF Burden, “Signficant/Recent Episodes" states NO which is an indication, at least to me, that your episodes are being well controlled.  My doctors would probably not be unduly worried about a 3.5% burden, but would of course be keeping a firm eye on this in case it should increase in the future, particularly if accompanied by high heart rate episodes.

I see some changes have been made to your Settings by the rep present, but it doesn't say what those changes were (?) and under Recommendation, I see they are to continue bi-annual in office checks as well as remote monitoring.  Overall I would not be concerned but try to reduce your stress levels and improve quality of sleep to see if you can reduce your AT/AF burden.  AT/AF burden goes up and down all the time, but as long as it doesn’t jump too high, I would remain confident that it is being well controlled.  As we know Stache, an arrhythmia like AF is usually progressive.  However it can be very very slow to progress.  My AF was diagnosed in 2016 and the burden is still very low at around 1-2%.

I note, your Presenting rhythm is shown as paced only which indicates to me that you were not in AT/AF at the time of your check, otherwise they would have indicated this too under Presenting rhythm.

I wish you all the best Stache and hope otherwise you are doing well.  As a matter of fact, my next in clinic pacing check is also on 1st August.

Hi there!

by Lavender - 2023-07-15 20:22:15

My only thought here is that your recommendation received was to continue the six month checkups. Sounds like they're comfortable with your situation! 😘

Try headphones, lying comfortably in bed, and tune into a "Michael Sealey" self help meditation on youtube! Works for me. 

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