Would you consider lifelong versus short-term (i.e. several months) course of anticoagulation for patients with elevated CHADSVASc score presenting with newly diagnosed paroxysmal atrial fibrillation triggered in the setting of acute illness (i.e. tachyarrhythmias with COVID-19 or bacterial pneumonia)?

AF during an acute illness could result from the stress of an infection, however, these patients do seem to be at higher risk of recurrence. It might also simply represent the first time that AF has been recognized in a patient who is at risk for atrial arrhythmias. Anticoagulation is indicated in t...

I agree with Dr. @Dr. First Last's response, which emphasizes that the risk of stroke for patients with atrial fibrillation is much more related to the patient's clinical risk (CHADSVASc being an easy though imperfect measure of it) rather than the patients' current rhythm.