A nationwide screening programme using an ECG handheld machine in Belgium identified a 1.4% prevalence of atrial fibrillation, with 1.1% (95% CI 0.9-1.3%) being newly diagnosed cases.
Cross-Sectional
Yes
Does a nationwide screening programme using an ECG handheld machine identify new cases of atrial fibrillation in the general population?
Nationwide screening with handheld ECGs is feasible and identifies a significant number of undiagnosed AF cases, many of whom have high thromboembolic risk but are undertreated with anticoagulants.
AIMS: Despite the increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF), data for the implementation of nationwide screening programmes are limited. The aim of this national screening study was to increase nationwide awareness about AF and stroke risk, to determine the prevalence of AF in Belgian general population using an ECG handheld machine and its feasibility to identify new AF cases. METHODS AND RESULTS: -VASc score ≥2, was recorded in 69% of AF subjects. In subjects with high thrombo-embolic risk, only 5.4% were treated with oral anticoagulant (OAC) and 5.8% were treated with OAC and antiplatelet drugs. Among recorded AF cases, the use of the ECG handheld machine allowed identification of 603 new AF patients (1.1%, 95% CI 0.9-1.3%). Factors associated with incident AF were chronic heart failure (P < 0.001), age (P < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (P < 0.001), previous stroke (P < 0.001), vascular disease (P < 0.001), and male sex (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this Belgian national screening programme, prevalence of AF was 1.4%. The use of an ECG handheld machine is feasible to identify a significant number of new AF cases, most with a high thrombo-embolic risk. Given the low OAC use recorded, greater efforts in AF detection and treatment are urgently needed to reduce the burden of stroke associated with this common arrhythmia.
Proietti et al. (Wed,) conducted a cross-sectional in Atrial fibrillation. ECG handheld machine screening was evaluated on Identification of new AF cases (95% CI 0.9-1.3). A nationwide screening programme using an ECG handheld machine in Belgium identified a 1.4% prevalence of atrial fibrillation, with 1.1% (95% CI 0.9-1.3%) being newly diagnosed cases.