Almeida, Ana G.2019-07-292019-07-292019Radiology. 2019 Jul 16:1912210033-8419http://hdl.handle.net/10451/39250© 2019 Radiological Society of North AmericaAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, occurring in up to 2% of the general population and growing in prevalence along with advancing age; almost 25% of the general population older than 80 years has episodes of AF. AF is associated with a fivefold incidence of stroke, a threefold risk of congestive heart failure, and a twofold risk of dementia and mortality. The pathophysiology of AF is still incompletely understood. AF has generally been considered to be a progressive condition, occurring first in a paroxysmal form and evolving to persistent and then to long-standing persistent (chronic or permanent) forms. However, not all patients follow this evolution; they may skip phases, and the time in each phase may vary substantially.engjournal article10.1148/radiol.2019191221