Does an AT/AF burden >= 5.5 hours detected by implantable devices increase thromboembolic and stroke risk?
Daily atrial tachyarrhythmia burden of 5.5 hours or more detected by implantable devices is associated with a doubled risk of thromboembolic events.
The TE rate was low compared with patients with traditional AF with similar risk profiles. The data suggest that TE risk is a quantitative function of AT/AF burden. AT/AF burden > or = 5.5 hours on any of 30 prior days appeared to double TE risk. Additional studies are needed to more precisely investigate the relationship between stroke risk and AT/AF burden.
Glotzer et al. (Wed,) studied this question.