Systematic Screening for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients at Moderate-to-High Risk of Stroke - Potential to Increase the Atrial Fibrillation Detection Rate (SCAN-AF).

Background: To determine the rate of undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) we screened for AF using an oscillometric blood pressure (BP) monitor device followed by a single-lead handheld electrocardiogram (ECG), with confirmation by 12-lead ECG as the reference standard.

Methods and results: From October 2017 to August 2019, 1,148 patients were enrolled without known AF, who were aged ≥65 years with moderate-to-high stroke risk, at 71 centers in Japan. After exclusion of 7 patients with confirmed AF at the index visit, 1,141 patients were asked to use an oscillometric BP monitor twice daily for 2 weeks (max: 4 weeks) to detect an irregular pulse. The BP monitor detected an irregular pulse in 481 patients, of which 1 patient had confirmed AF. Thereafter, 480 patients were instructed to acquire ECGs twice daily for an additional 2 weeks (max: 4 weeks) using a single-lead handheld ECG device. The handheld ECG device detected irregular rhythm in 41 patients, of which 1 patient had confirmed AF. In total, undiagnosed AF was confirmed in 9 (0.8%) patients of the overall study cohort during the 24-week follow-up period.

Conclusions: Sequential use of a BP monitor and handheld ECG for 4 weeks is a practical strategy for identifying undiagnosed AF in Japanese people at heightened risk of stroke.