What is the Difference Between Valvular and Non-valvular AF?

The difference between valvular and non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) lies in the underlying cause of the condition. Valvular AF is associated with heart valve disorders or prosthetic heart valves, while non-valvular AF is attributed to other factors, such as high blood pressure or stress.

Valvular AF is considered to be present in patients with mitral stenosis or artificial heart valves. On the other hand, non-valvular AF is diagnosed in patients without these specific valve issues. It is important for doctors to determine which type of AF a patient has before prescribing treatments, as valvular and non-valvular AF are often treated differently.

One key difference in treatment is the use of anticoagulants. Newer anticoagulants, known as non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs), are not recommended for people with valvular AF, especially those with mechanical heart valves. These newer anticoagulants include rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban, and edoxaban. In contrast, warfarin and other vitamin K antagonists are more commonly prescribed for patients with valvular AF.

Comparative Table: Valvular vs Non-valvular AF

Valvular and non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) are two types of irregular and rapid heart rhythms that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications. The main difference between the two is the underlying cause:

• Valvular AF is caused by problems with a heart valve, specifically rheumatic heart disease causing mitral stenosis or procedures to fix it. It mainly occurs due to mitral stenosis and artificial heart valves.

• Non-valvular AF is caused by factors other than heart valve problems, such as high blood pressure and an overactive thyroid gland.

While there is some debate on the exact definition of valvular and non-valvular AF, the following table highlights the key differences between the two:

Both valvular and non-valvular AF can be treated through medications, such as anticoagulants, and surgeries.