AI Article Synopsis

  • A study was conducted on individuals aged 70 and older to assess the frequency and burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) using a 14-day electrocardiograph monitor.
  • Out of 5,684 participants, 4.4% were found to have AF, with the majority having paroxysmal AF of low burden; the median time spent in AF was only about 75 minutes.
  • The research highlighted that while most AF cases had low burden, a significant portion had extended episodes, raising potential concerns for increased stroke risk and suggesting the need for targeted AF screening approaches.

Article Abstract

Background: The "burden" of atrial fibrillation (AF) detected by screening likely influences stroke risk, but the distribution of burden is not well described.

Objectives: This study aims to determine the frequency of AF and the distribution of AF burden found when screening individuals ≥70 years of age with a 14-day electrocardiograph monitor.

Methods: This is a cohort study of the screening arm of a randomized AF screening trial among those ≥70 years of age without a prior AF diagnosis (between 2019 and 2021). Screening was performed with a 14-day continuous electrocardiogram patch monitor.

Results: Analyzable patches were returned by 5,684 (95%) of screening arm participants; the median age was 75 years (Q1-Q3: 72-78 years), 57% were female, and the median CHADS-VASc score was 3 (Q1-Q3: 2-4). AF was detected in 252 participants (4.4%); 29 (0.5%) patients had continuous AF and 223 (3.9%) had paroxysmal AF. Among those with paroxysmal AF, the average indices of AF burden were of low magnitude with right-skewed distributions. The median percent time in AF was 0.46% (Q1-Q3: 0.02%-2.48%), or 75 (Q1-Q3: 3-454) minutes, and the median longest episode was 38 (Q1-Q3: 2-245) minutes. The upper quartile threshold of 2.48% time in AF corresponded to 7.6 hours. Age greater than 80 years was associated with screen-detected AF in our multivariable model (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.06-2.02).

Conclusions: Most AF detected in these older patients was very low burden. However, one-quarter of those with AF had multiple hours of AF, raising concern about stroke risk. These findings have implications for targeting populations for AF screening trials and for responding to heart rhythm alerts from mobile devices (GUARD-AF [A Study to Determine if Identification of Undiagnosed Atrial Fibrillation in People at least 70 Years of Age Reduces the Risk of Stroke]; NCT04126486).

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2024.08.010DOI Listing

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