Outcomes of Device-detected Atrial High-rate Episodes in Patients with No Prior History of Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Outcomes of device-detected AF remain unclear in individuals without a prior history of AF.

Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate outcomes in individuals with no prior history of AF who experienced device-detected AF. Outcomes assessed were clinical AF, thromboembolism and all-cause mortality. A fixed-effects model was used to calculate RRs with 95% CI.

Results: Compared to individuals who did not experience device-detected AF, those who did had increased risks of clinical AF (RR 3.33, 95% CI [1.99.5.57]; p<0.0001) and thromboembolic events (RR 2.21; 95% CI [1.72.2.85]; p<0.0001). The risk of all-cause mortality was similar between both groups (RR 1.19; 95% CI [0.95.1.49]; p=0.13). Subgroup analysis revealed an increased risk of thromboembolic events among device-detected AF .24 hours (RR 12.34; 95% CI [2.70.56.36]).

Conclusion: While there is an increased risk of clinical AF and thromboembolism in individuals with device-detected AF, mortality was insignificant.