Key result
Asymptomatic incidentally detected AF carries similar stroke risk to symptomatic presentations.
Why the study?
There is a lack of solid data regarding the reduction of adverse clinical outcomes in subjects undergoing screening for asymptomatic atrial fibrillation compared with other detection modes.
Does the mode of atrial fibrillation detection (asymptomatic vs symptomatic/hospitalized) affect the risk of stroke and mortality?
Population
22,035 adult (18–84 years) subjects with incident AF and 23,605 non-AF matched patients
Comparison
Mode of AF detection: asymptomatic incidentally detected vs symptomatic ambulatory vs primary hospital discharge vs nonprimary hospital discharge
Design
Observational analysis from UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink linked to hospital and mortality data
Follow-up
3 years
Authors
Loading...
May support AF screening; extends observational associations but leaves open randomized outcome data.
Does the mode of atrial fibrillation detection (asymptomatic vs symptomatic/hospitalized) affect the risk of stroke and mortality?
Asymptomatic incidentally detected atrial fibrillation carries a similar risk of ischemic stroke as symptomatic presentations, highlighting the potential clinical importance of AF screening strategies.
Proietti et al. (2021) conducted an editorial in Atrial fibrillation (n=45,640). Asymptomatic incidentally detected ambulatory atrial fibrillation vs. Symptomatic ambulatory AF, hospital-diagnosed AF, and non-AF was evaluated on Stroke. Asymptomatic incidentally detected atrial fibrillation (24.5% of incident cases) was associated with a similar risk of stroke compared to symptomatic presentations over a 3-year follow-up.