Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter are both conditions with abnormal heart rhythms. It occurs when there is a problem with the electrical signals and pathways in the heart, causing the heart to beat irregularly. However, the distinction between atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter is clearly important, given the implications for treatment and long-term prognosis of the patient.

Atrial flutter is a common supraventricular tachyarrhythmia. Atrial flutter is 2.5 times more common in men than in women and is more common in older patients. The disease often progresses spontaneously from asymptomatic to hemodynamically impaired, even to sudden death.