Methods of reducing the risk of cardiovascular events in a subject with atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter

A method for treating a patient comprising:

• determining or having determined whether the patient has a triglyceride level of at least 150 mg/dl and a history of atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter by:
• obtaining or having obtained information which indicates that the patient has the triglyceride level of at least 150 mg/dl and has previously had symptoms of atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter and/or was previously diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter;
• and/or
• monitoring or having monitored the subject for the triglyceride level of at least 150 mg/dl and for symptoms of atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter;
• and
• (a) if the patient has previously had symptoms of atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter, was previously diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter, and/or had symptoms of atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter when monitored, then
• (i) determining whether a risk that the patient will experience symptoms of atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter if the patient were administered about 4 g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) per day is greater than reducing a risk of one or more cardiovascular events in the patient;
• or
• (ii) determining whether reducing a risk of one or more cardiovascular events if the patient were administered about 4 g of EPA per day is greater than a risk that the patient will experience symptoms of atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter;
• and
• (b) if the risk is greater that the patient in (i) will experience symptoms of atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter, administering an atrial fibrillation flutter and/or atrial flutter therapeutic agent to the patient instead of about 4 g of EPA per day;
• and
• (c) if the risk is greater that the patient in (ii) will have a reduced risk of one or more cardiovascular events, administering about 4 g of EPA per day to the patient.