Key result
Among hospitalized patients aged 65-84 years, the prevalence of screen-detected atrial fibrillation was significantly higher in males than females (5.5% vs 4.0%; p=0.041).
Why the study?
The prevalence of AF is high in older patients, but age- and sex-specific prevalence estimates of clinical and screen-detected AF in hospitalized patients were needed.
Cohort (n=795)
Absolute Event Rate: 5.5% vs 4%
p-value: p=0.041
In hospitalized patients aged 65-84 years, clinical atrial fibrillation is highly prevalent (22.2%), and systematic screening identifies an additional 3.8% with previously undetected AF, with higher rates observed in males.
Supports AF screening research in hospitalized patients aged 65-84; leaves open effects on outcomes.
Background: The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is high in older patients. The present study aimed to estimate the age and sex specific prevalence of clinical and screen-detected atrial fibrillation (AF) in hospitalized patients. Methods: The STAR-FIB cohort study was a prospective cohort study recruiting participants from a large source population of hospitalized patients aged 65–84 years. The estimated size of the source population was 26,035 (95% CI 25,918–26,152), and 795 consenting patients without clinical AF were included in the cohort study after stratification by sex and age (49.2% females; mean age 74.7 years). Patients in the cohort study underwent three seven-day Holter ECGs in intervals of two months to screen for AF. Results: In the source population, the estimated prevalence of clinical AF was 22.2% (95% CI 18.4–26.1), 23.8% for males (95% CI 20.9–26.6) and 19.8% for females (95% CI 17.3–22.4; p for difference between sexes, 0.004). There was a linear trend for an increase in the prevalence of clinical AF with increasing age, overall and in both sexes. In the cohort study, AF was newly diagnosed in 38 patients, for an estimated prevalence of screen-detected AF of 4.9% overall (95% CI 3.3–6.6), 5.5% in males (95% CI 3.2–7.8) and 4.0% in females (95% CI 2.0–6.0; p for difference between sexes, 0.041). The estimated prevalence of screen-detected AF in the source population was 3.8% overall, 4.2% in males and 3.2% in females. Conclusion: In a large hospital-based patient population aged 65–84 years, the prevalence of clinical AF and of screen-detected AF was 22.2% and 3.8%, respectively, and significantly higher in males than females.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Roten et al. (2021) conducted a cohort in Atrial fibrillation (n=795). Male sex vs. Female sex was evaluated on Screen-detected atrial fibrillation (p=0.041). Among hospitalized patients aged 65-84 years, the prevalence of screen-detected atrial fibrillation was significantly higher in males than females (5.5% vs 4.0%; p=0.041).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: