Mass Screening for Untreated Atrial Fibrillation: The STROKESTOP Study

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Cardiology
• Public Health Screening

Background:

• Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia, increasing stroke risk.
• Early detection and treatment of AF are crucial for stroke prevention.
• Screening elderly populations for AF can identify undiagnosed cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of untreated atrial fibrillation (AF) in 75- to 76-year-olds via systematic screening.
• To assess the feasibility of initiating oral anticoagulant (OAC) treatment in newly diagnosed AF patients.

Main Methods:

• Systematic screening of 75- to 76-year-olds in two Swedish regions.
• Intermittent ECG recordings over two weeks for participants without a prior AF diagnosis.
• Offer of OAC treatment upon AF detection.

Main Results:

• 12,331 individuals were invited, with 7,173 (53.8%) participating.
• Previously unknown AF was detected in 3.0% of participants; total AF prevalence was 12.3%.
• Untreated AF was found in 5.1% of the screened population, with OAC initiated in 3.7%.

Conclusions:

• Mass screening effectively identifies a significant number of individuals with untreated AF in the 75- to 76-year-old population.
• Initiation of OAC treatment for stroke prophylaxis was highly successful in newly diagnosed AF patients.