The heart rate pattern of atrial fibrillation is categorized as?

Atrial fibrillation is characterized by an irregularly irregular heart rate. This means that the intervals between the heartbeats are unpredictable and vary in duration. Unlike a regular rhythm, where intervals are consistent, atrial fibrillation presents with no discernible pattern, leading to a chaotic and irregular rhythm as observed on an EKG.

The term "irregularly irregular" describes the absence of a repetitive or fixed pattern in the heart rate, which is a hallmark of atrial fibrillation. Patients may experience a varying heart rate that can change from moment to moment, resulting in an erratic rhythm that does not follow any predictable sequence. This is in contrast to a regularly irregular rhythm, where there may be a repetitive sequence of irregular beats that can be anticipated. Therefore, labeling atrial fibrillation as irregularly irregular accurately reflects its defining characteristic in EKG readings.