Key result
Early atrial fibrillation diagnosis (<48h, n=6) followed severe symptoms prompting urgent care, whereas late diagnosis (≥48h, n=20) followed vague symptoms that were often ignored.
Why the study?
There is limited understanding of the symptom experience prior to an atrial fibrillation diagnosis and how these experiences influence treatment-related decisions and time frames.
Patients with atrial fibrillation who seek treatment late often experience vague, paroxysmal symptoms compared to the severe, persistent symptoms of early treatment seekers, highlighting a need for better symptom recognition strategies.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Vague pre-diagnosis AF symptoms often delay recognition; leaves open how targeted education might accelerate treatment seeking.
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation is a complex condition associated with a broad spectrum of symptoms, coupled with variability in the frequency, duration and severity of symptoms. Early treatment seeking is important to reduce the risk of stroke, heart failure and dementia. Despite the increasing prevalence, there remains a limited understanding of the symptom experience prior to an atrial fibrillation diagnosis, and how these experiences influence treatment-related decisions and time frames. AIMS: This qualitative study aimed to explore the symptom experiences of patients receiving an early diagnosis of less than 48 hours and a late diagnosis of 48 hours or more after symptom awareness. METHODS: Twenty-six adults were interviewed guided by the symptom experience model. The symptom checklist was used to probe patient's symptoms further. Data were analysed using a two-step approach to thematic analysis utilising concepts from the symptom experience model. RESULTS: The two groups differed in their perception, evaluation and response to symptoms. The early diagnosis group (n = 6) experienced traumatic, severe and persistent symptoms, evoking concern and urgent treatment seeking. Conversely, the late diagnosis group (n = 20) reported more vague, paroxysmal symptoms that were readily ignored, self-theorised as non-illness related, and engaged in non-treatment strategies. Healthy self-perceptions, past experiences, atrial fibrillation knowledge and healthcare provider interactions influenced early or late treatment seeking. CONCLUSION: For many, the atrial fibrillation pre-diagnosis was a tumultuous period, requiring prolonged periods to recognise symptoms and formulate treatment-seeking responses. This study may promote future research and strategies aimed at facilitating the early identification and response to symptoms among atrial fibrillation patients.
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Wilson et al. (2020) studied Atrial fibrillation (n=26). Early diagnosis (<48 hours) vs. Late diagnosis (≥48 hours) was evaluated on Symptom experiences (perception, evaluation and response to symptoms). Early atrial fibrillation diagnosis (<48h, n=6) followed severe symptoms prompting urgent care, whereas late diagnosis (≥48h, n=20) followed vague symptoms that were often ignored.
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