A 70-year-old man presents with sudden pain and ischemic changes in his left leg. An arterial embolus is suspected. The following is/are true:

c. Currently, the most common cause of AF is ischemic rather than rheumatic heart disease

Approximately 80–90% of arterial emboli originate in the heart, and 2/3 are secondary to AF. Chronic AF carries an annual risk of 3–6% of significant embolic complications while paroxysmal AF has a lower risk. Traditionally, rheumatic heart disease was the most common cause of chronic AF, but with its decline, ischemic heart disease has become the most common cause. Drug therapy in AF will reduce the risk of stroke, but aspirin is less effective in this regard than coumadin.