Sammanfattning
Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in Denmark affecting 50.000 people. Despite this high prevalence and numerous associated hospital contacts, patients with atrial fibrillation have not received much attention in nursing research and general nursing practice. The aim of this study was to illuminate patient experiences with atrial fibrillation. A systematic literature search in the databases Cinahl and Pubmed was performed and 21 articles were included. An analysis of these articles was conducted and 5 themes emerged. The review shows that living with atrial fibrillation is complex. Having atrial fibrillation involves living with a great amount of symptoms, an impaired health status and limited physical function. Furthermore, patients with atrial fibrillation possess little knowledge about their disease, its treatment, and how to manage the illness in a safe way. This review provides a comprehensive overview and insight into patient experiences with atrial fibrillation and the challenges atrial fibrillation cause.