Atrial fibrillation classification

Overview
Although several clinical classification plans and protocols have been proposed, none of them fully account for all aspects of atrial fibrillation. The American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and the European Society of Cardiology have proposed the following classification system based on simplicity and clinical relevance:

First Detected Atrial Fibrillation
Any patient with new diagnosed AF is in this category, as the exact onset and chronicity of the disease is often uncertain. The patient may have been symptomatic or asymptomatic.

Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation
Two or more identified episodes of atrial fibrillation are named as recurrent form of atrial fibrillation. This is further classified into paroxysmal and persistent based on when the episode terminates without therapy. Atrial fibrillation is said to be paroxysmal when it terminates spontaneously within 7 days, most commonly within 24 hours.

The term 'Persistent' or 'chronic' is used if diagnosis of atrial fibrillation established for more than seven days. Differentiation of paroxysmal from chronic or established AF is based on the history of recurrent episodes and the duration of the current AF episode.

Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Persistent atrial fibrillation is defined as episodes of atrial fibrillation of more than seven days duration.

Permanent Atrial Fibrillation
Permanent atrial fibrillation is defined as atrial fibrillation that persists for more than a year. Cardioversion has either failed in these patients were has not yet been attempted.

Lone Atrial Fibrillation (LAF)
Lone atrial fibrillation is defined as atrial fibrillation in the absence of clinical or echocardiographic findings of cardiopulmonary disease including hypertension. Patients in this group are young individuals (less than 60 years old).