September 10, 1987New England Journal of Medicine
The Natural History of Lone Atrial Fibrillation
Why the study?
What is the long-term risk of stroke and survival in patients under 60 years of age with lone atrial fibrillation?
Population
97 patients with lone atrial fibrillation from Olmsted County, Minnesota. Mean age at diagnosis was 44 years.
Design
Cohort
Follow-up
mean 14.8 years per patient
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
Lone AF under 60 was associated with low stroke risk; leaves open whether anticoagulation can be safely omitted without randomized trials.
Structured PICO
What is the long-term risk of stroke and survival in patients under 60 years of age with lone atrial fibrillation?
P
Population
97 patients with lone atrial fibrillation (defined as atrial fibrillation in the absence of overt cardiovascular disease or precipitating illness, ≤60 years old at diagnosis) from Olmsted County, Minnesota. Mean age at diagnosis was 44 years.
O
Outcome
Incidence of thromboemboli (stroke)hard clinical
Lone atrial fibrillation in patients under the age of 60 is associated with a very low long-term risk of stroke, suggesting that routine anticoagulation may not be warranted in this population.
Cite This Study
Kopecky et al. (1987) studied this question.