Screening of unknown atrial fibrillation through handheld device in the elderly

• Published in: Journal of geriatric cardiology : JGC Vol. 17; no. 8; pp. 495 - 501
• Main Authors: Rivezzi, Francesco, Vio, Riccardo, Bilato, Claudio, Pagliani, Leopoldo, Pasquetto, Giampaolo, Saccà, Salvatore, Verlato, Roberto, Migliore, Federico, Iliceto, Sabino, Bossone, Vito, Bertaglia, Emanuele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Science Press 01.08.2020
• Subjects: Screening; Stroke prevention; Handheld electrocardiogram; Primary care; Atrial fibrillation
• ISSN: 1671-5411
• DOI: 10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2020.08.008

To estimate the prevalence of unknown atrial fibrillation (AF) in the elderly population of the Veneto Region, Italy. 1820 patients aged ≥ 65 years with no history of AF and not anticoagulated were enrolled in primary-care settings. They underwent an opportunistic electrocardiogram screening with a handheld device (MyDiagnostick) designed to specifically detect AF. The electrocardiogram recordings were reviewed by the researchers, who confirmed the presence of AF. The device detected an arrhythmia in 143 patients, which was confirmed as AF in 101/143 (70.6%), with an overall prevalence of AF of 5.5% (101/1820). Prevalence of unknown AF resulted in 3.6% in patients aged 65-74 years, and 7.5% in patients age 75 or older, and increased according to CHA DS -VASc score: 3.5% in patients with a score of 1 or 2, 5.6% in patients with a score of 3, 7.0% in patients with a score of 4, and 7.2% in patients with a score ≥ 5. The detection rate was significantly higher in patients with mild symptoms compared to asymptomatic counterparts (24.1% 4.0%, < 0.0001). At multivariate analysis, congestive heart failure and age ≥ 75 years-old were independent predictors for screen-detected AF. An opportunistic screening with handheld device revealed an unexpectedly high prevalence of unknown AF in elderly patients with mild symptoms. Prevalence increased with age and CHA DS -VASc score.