Atrial fibrillation is one of the leading causes of stroke, accounting for about 25% of all cases. Stroke is the second leading cause of death in Vietnam, after cardiovascular disease.

Atrial fibrillation causes hypercoagulability and thrombosis in the left atrium, rupture of blood clots, causing embolism, the most serious is cerebral embolism. Approximately 90% of cerebrovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation without valvular disease originate in the left atrium. Atrial appendage occlusion reduces the risk of death from a stroke by 38%.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia today and the incidence increases with age. Approximately 4% of atrial fibrillation cases occur in patients <60 years of age, whereas >8% of patients 80 years of age and older have atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation, which causes palpitations and arrhythmias, can end quickly and resolve on its own without treatment, but if the heart rate is too fast, emergency treatment is needed to prevent the risk of stroke and heart attack.