atrial fibrillation (AFib)

February 25, 2026

Patients with atrial fibrillation face higher bleeding risks when treated with 2 common medications

While diltiazem remains an effective option for heart rate control in selected patients, bleeding risk posed by anticoagulants should be considered.

By Jake Lowary
Atrial Fibrillation Precision Research Program clinic team members arrange genetic testing for patients with AFib. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
August 7, 2024

Program arranges genetic testing for AFib patients who may be at risk for inherited cardiomyopathy or arrhythmia syndromes

Without treatment, younger patients may develop other serious cardiac disorders such as heart failure or life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.

By Matt Batcheldor
(Adobe Stock)
July 24, 2024

Study links low-quality sleep with chronic disease

The research shows that by getting enough sleep and reducing variability around sleep onset and wake times, patients can reduce the incidence of chronic disease.

By Matt Batcheldor
(iStock image)
April 17, 2024

Common AFib drug linked to higher bleeding risk 

In a national retrospective study led by researchers at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, diltiazem, when given in combination with the anticoagulant drugs apixaban (Eliquis) or rivaroxaban (Xarelto), significantly increased the risk of serious bleeding compared to metoprolol.

By Bill Snyder
June 8, 2023

Targeting calcium handling in A-fib

The drug ent-verticilide reduced A-fib incidence and duration in an animal model, suggesting it may be a viable therapeutic option.

By Leigh MacMillan
June 8, 2022

Genes and age studied as markers for higher death rate in those with atrial fibrillation

Younger patients with atrial fibrillation who had rare genetic variants associated with inherited cardiomyopathy and arrythmia syndromes were associated with a significantly higher rate of death than those without the variants, a Vanderbilt-led study has shown.

By Matt Batcheldor
April 11, 2022

Peptides promote AFib arrhythmia

Peptide oligomers have detrimental metabolic effects and cause pro-arrhythmic electrophysiological changes in heart atria, suggesting they may contribute to atrial fibrillation.
By Leigh MacMillan
December 21, 2021

Study finds apixaban (Eliquis) is preferable to rivaroxaban (Xarelto) for stroke prevention, reduced bleeding complications

By Jill Clendening
October 7, 2021

Study finds genetic testing useful for young AFib patients

Vanderbilt research shows that genetic testing in patients with early-onset atrial fibrillation can identify variants associated with more serious cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia syndromes that may otherwise remain undiagnosed.
By Matt Batcheldor
September 9, 2021

VHVI offers latest therapies to treat atrial fibrillation

Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute continues to offer the latest in therapies to treat atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib), the most common cardiac arrhythmia.
By Matt Batcheldor
March 18, 2021

Device to treat AFib may eliminate need for blood thinners

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is participating in a trial for a device that could revolutionize the way patients are treated for atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib.)
By Matt Batcheldor
March 11, 2021

Genotype looms large in risk for post-op arrhythmia

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (PoAF), a form of arrhythmia, complicates 20-40% of cardiac surgical procedures and 10–20% of non-cardiac thoracic operations, cropping up two to four days after surgery to pose risk of stroke, heart attack, mortality, longer hospital stays and greater cost.
By Paul Govern
October 22, 2020

Minimally invasive treatment option for AFib studied

A minimally invasive procedure that combines ligation of the left atrial appendage (LAA) with hybrid epicardial-endocardial ablation is a feasible, safe and effective method of treating patients with longstanding atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib), according to a new Vanderbilt-led study.
By Matt Batcheldor