What is a distinguishing feature of atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is characterized by a distinct wavy baseline between irregularly occurring QRS complexes. This wavy baseline is caused by chaotic electrical activity in the atria, leading to a lack of organized atrial contractions. The fibrillatory waves can vary in amplitude and frequency and are typically seen between the QRS complexes on an electrocardiogram (ECG). This gives the classic appearance of atrial fibrillation, which is not present in rhythms with more organized atrial activity.

The presence of irregularly spaced QRS complexes further underscores the disorganized electrical activity. It’s crucial to understand that the other characteristics, such as a regular QRS complex or a prolonged PR interval, do not align with the typical ECG findings of atrial fibrillation, reinforcing the importance of recognizing the wavy baseline as a key feature.