Key result
Micro-AF (<30s supraventricular episodes) was associated with higher AF development at 2.3 years vs controls (50% vs 10%, p<0.001).
Why the study?
The European Society of Cardiology guidelines define AF using a consensus-based 30-second criterion, leaving it uncertain whether very short-lasting episodes of supraventricular arrhythmia (micro-AF, <30 seconds) are a risk factor for developing AF or how parallel continuous and intermittent ECG recordings compare for AF detection.
Does the presence of short-lasting episodes of supraventricular arrhythmia (micro-AF, <30 seconds) increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation in an elderly population?
Cohort (n=102)
Does the presence of short-lasting episodes of supraventricular arrhythmia (micro-AF, <30 seconds) increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation in an elderly population?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Short-lasting episodes of irregular supraventricular arrhythmia (<30 seconds, micro-AF) strongly predict progression to clinical atrial fibrillation in elderly individuals, and 2-week continuous ECG monitoring is substantially more sensitive than twice-daily intermittent recordings for detecting AF.
According to the present European Society of Cardiology's guidelines for atrial fibrillation (AF), the definition of AF contains a 30-second time criterion, based on consensus. The aim of this cohort study is to evaluate whether very short-lasting episodes of AF, micro-AF, are risk factors for developing AF and to compare AF detection between continuous and intermittent ECG recordings applied in parallel. All participants, n = 102, were identified from the STROKESTOP study, a Swedish mass-screening study for AF. Participants were divided into 2 groups depending on results in the STROKESTOP study: a micro-AF group (with abrupt onset episodes of ≥4 consecutive supraventricular beats, irregular rate-to-rate intervals, absence of regular p waves, lasting for <30 seconds), n = 54, and a control group, n = 48. After a follow-up period participants who were clinically free of AF were invited to undergo repeat AF screening during a 2-week period, using continuous ECG recording and 30 seconds intermittent recordings simultaneously. After 2.3years of follow-up, significantly more participants in the micro-AF group had developed AF, 27 of 54 (50%), compared with the control group, 5 of 48 (10%), p < 0.001. Among the 94 participants not already diagnosed with AF who underwent AF-screening, 25 of 25 (100%) AF cases were detected with help of continuous monitoring whereas 10 of 25 (40%) AF cases were found with intermittent ECGs. In conclusion, micro-AF seems to be an important risk factor for the development of AF in an elderly population. The detection of AF was significantly higher using 2 weeks of continuous ECG monitoring compared with intermittent 30-second ECG recordings twice daily for 2 weeks.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Frykman et al. (2018) conducted a cohort in Micro-atrial fibrillation / Atrial fibrillation screening (n=102). Micro-atrial fibrillation (abrupt onset episodes of ≥4 consecutive supraventricular beats, irregular rate-to-rate intervals, absence of regular P waves, lasting <30 seconds) vs. Control group without micro-AF was evaluated on Development of atrial fibrillation (p=<0.001). Micro-AF (<30s supraventricular episodes) was associated with higher AF development at 2.3 years vs controls (50% vs 10%, p<0.001).
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: