Atrial fibrillation prevalence and risk profile from novel community-based screening in Thailand: A prospective multi-centre study.

Background: In Thailand, almost one-quarter of strokes are related to atrial fibrillation (AF), and many could be prevented if AF were diagnosed and treated prior to the stroke. Therefore, we tested a novel strategy to screen large numbers of community residents using village health volunteers and primary care nurses.

Methods: Local primary care nurses and village health volunteers in Phetchaburi and Lopburi provinces, Thailand were trained to perform AF screening using a blood pressure device with AF algorithm (Microlife A200 AFib). 10% of residents aged ≥ 65 years were randomly selected for screening during home-visits. Participants with possible AF were given follow-up appointments for further testing, including 12-lead ECG and echocardiogram.

Results: Over two-months, 9.7% (13,864/143,478) of the target population were screened: mean age 73.2 ± 6.4 years, 32.4% male. The estimated AF prevalence (detected by Microlife A200 AFib) was 2.8% (95% CI, 2.6-3.1%) for age ≥ 65 years (i.e. 393/13,864 participants). Prevalence increased with age from 1.9% (65-69 years) to 5.0% (≥85 years) (p < 0.001). Only 58% (226/393) of participants with suspected AF attended the follow-up appointment (1-3 months after initial screen): mean CHA2DS2-VASc score 3.2 ± 1.2; 86.3% (195/226) had Class-1 oral anticoagulation recommendation, and 33% (75/226) had AF on 12-lead ECG.

Conclusions: In Thailand, large-scale AF screening in the community is feasible using trained volunteer health workers, allowing screening of large numbers in a short time-period. Further investigation of this strategy is warranted, ensuring mechanisms to obtain a timely rhythm strip or 12-lead ECG locally, and a designated pathway to treatment.