CArdioversion of Short Duration Atrial Fibrillation

The study is aimed at testing the hypothesis whether atrial fibrillary rate (AFR), as a measure of atrial electrical remodeling assessed from surface ECG, is predictive of sinus rhythm maintenance after electrical cardioversion. Earlier studies performed in a retrospective fashion suggested that high AFR exceeding 350-360 fibrillations per minute is an independent predictor of AF relapse after cardioversion, particularly in patients with duration of AF episode not exceeding 30 days, however this hypothesis has not been tested in a prospective study. CASAF is an observational study that will enroll patients with short duration (\< 30 days) AF admitted for electrical cardioversion. Admission ECG will be extracted in a digital format and processed off-line for estimation of AFR. AF relapse will be assessed during 6-weeks long follow-up period during which ECG control will be scheduled at week 1 and 6.