Early Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation for Stroke Prevention Trial

EAST prospectively tests the hypothesis that an early, structured rhythm control therapy based on antiarrhythmic drugs and catheter ablation can prevent atrial fibrillation (AF) related complications in patients with AF when compared to usual care. Patients will be randomized to early therapy or usual care. In the early therapy group, patients will receive either catheter ablation (usually by pulmonary vein isolation), or adequate antiarrhythmic drug therapy at an early time point. The initial therapy will be selected by the local investigator. Upon AF recurrence, both modalities will be combined. Usual care will be conducted following the 2010European Society of Cardiology ( ESC )guidelines for AF treatment. Early rhythm control therapy will be guided by Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring.