[Looking for atrial fibrillation--several reasons for screening]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology and Public Health
• Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases

Context:

• Atrial fibrillation (AF) meets WHO criteria for population screening due to high undetected prevalence.
• AF significantly increases ischaemic stroke risk (5-fold), which is preventable with anticoagulation (up to 70% reduction).

Purpose:

• To evaluate the suitability of atrial fibrillation screening in the general population.
• To determine optimal screening duration and target populations for AF detection.
• To assess the health economic implications of AF screening programs.

Summary:

• AF screening is warranted given its prevalence and association with a 5-fold increased risk of ischaemic stroke.
• Extended screening durations are shown to improve AF detection rates, particularly post-ischaemic stroke.
• Further research is required on optimal screening populations, duration, and health economics.

Impact:

• Findings support revising Swedish stroke guidelines to incorporate evidence-based AF screening protocols.
• Improved AF detection and management can significantly reduce stroke incidence and associated morbidity/mortality.
• Optimized screening strategies can enhance public health outcomes and potentially lower healthcare costs.