Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects over 30 million people worldwide. It is the most important cause of embolic stroke and increases the risk of heart failure and sudden death. Yet despite more than 100 years of research and speculation the mechanisms that initiate, maintain and perpetuate AF are incompletely understood, which likely explains why therapy has been disappointing to date.

The central objective of the CNIC AF Symposium is to bring together some of the leading AF professionals from Europe and the USA to present and discuss the latest in fundamental, translational, clinical and population sciences and technological advances in the field. The one-and-half-day meeting will be divided into six thematic sessions, each including presentations that will cover topics that deal with basic mechanisms, translational research and critical barriers, challenges and opportunities in AF therapy. The expectation is to identify critical areas of joint work among physicians and scientists working in the AF field to advance knowledge, with the hope of improving therapy of such an often devastating condition.

AF is the most common heart rhythm disorder in the world, with major public health impact especially due to increased risk of stroke and hospitalizations. The recently published results on epidemiology of AF from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study confirm the existence of a significant and progressive worldwide increase in the burden of AF. AF is characterized by a rapid and irregular heartbeat that can be asymptomatic or lead to symptoms such as palpitations, dyspnea and dizziness.

The condition can also be associated with serious complications, including an increased risk of stroke. Important recent developments in the clinical epidemiology and management of AF have informed our approach to this arrhythmia. The CNIC AF Symposium will provide a comprehensive forum that will bring together 17 outstanding clinicians and scientists, all worldwide leaders in their specific fields of study, to present and discuss of the latest advances in knowledge on AF including its epidemiology, molecular mechanisms and pathophysiology, diagnosis, screening, prevention and management, including rate control and rhythm control. 

The conference will highlight how understanding of fundamental mechanisms at multiple scales, from the molecule to the patient and new advances are translated into clinical practice, and explore how clinical problems have created new avenues for research and therapeutics.