Heart Education Awareness Resource and Training through eLearning (HEARTe)

Classification of AF

AF is classified by a patient’s history and the duration of AF. Many patients, about 1 in 5, have no symptoms of AF and so their AF history is unknown. The diagram below shows the different classifications of AF. It is important to remember for most people this is a journey that may progress. Both the clinician and the patient should be aware of this when making the initial diagnosis and planning long term management and review.

The AF continuum terminology

First presentation Paroxsymal Persistent Non-Cardiac
  • Clinical features: symptomatic or asymptomatic; onset unknown
  • Pattern: may or may not reoccur
  • Clinical features: symptomatic or asymptomati;, spontaneous termination
  • Pattern: self terminating less than 48 hours but certainly less than 7 days
  • Clinical features: symptomatic or asymptomatic; not self terminating
  • Pattern: Recurrent, lasts more than 7 days or requires cardioversion (electrical or pharmacological)
  • Clinical features: symptomatic or asymptomatic, but relapsed; not terminated/terminated; no cardioversion attempted or cardioversion unsuccessful
  • Pattern: established

Pulse point

European Society of Cardiology: Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation (2016)

NICE guidelines: Management of Atrial Fibrillation (2014)

Page last reviewed: 29 Jul 2020