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Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 20, 2022
Development and validation of a score to detect paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after stroke
Timo Uphaus1, Mark Weber-Krüger1, Martin Grond1
1From the Department of Neurology (T.U., K.G.), and Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (G.T., A.J.-E.), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz; Department of Cardiology and Pneumology (M.W.-K.), University of Göttingen; Clinic and Policlinic for Cardiology (R.W.), University Hospital Leipzig, Germany; Department of Neurology (M.G.), Kreisklinikum Siegen; Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (A.J.-E.); Department of Neurology (M.J.), Hainich Klinikum, Mühlhausen, Germany; Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences (P.K.), University of Birmingham; and Department of Cardiology (P.K.), SWBH and UHB NHS Trusts, Birmingham, UK.
Objective:
Prolonged monitoring times (72 hours) are recommended to detect paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) after ischemic stroke but this is not yet clinical practice; therefore, an individual patient selection for prolonged ECG monitoring might increase the diagnostic yield of pAF in a resource-saving manner.
Methods:
We used individual patient data from 3 prospective studies (ntotal = 1,556) performing prolonged Holter-ECG monitoring (at least 72 hours) and centralized data evaluation after TIA or stroke in patients with sinus rhythm. Based on the TRIPOD (Transparent Reporting of a Multivariable Prediction Model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis) guideline, a clinical score was developed on one cohort, internally validated by bootstrapping, and externally validated on 2 other studies.
Results:
pAF was detected in 77 of 1,556 patients (4.9%) during 72 hours of Holter monitoring. After logistic regression analysis with variable selection, age and the qualifying stroke event (categorized as stroke severity with NIH Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score ≤5 [odds ratio 2.4 vs TIA; 95% confidence interval 0.8-6.9, p = 0.112] or stroke with NIHSS score >5 [odds ratio 7.2 vs TIA; 95% confidence interval 2.4-21.8, p < 0.001]) were found to be predictive for the detection of pAF within 72 hours of Holter monitoring and included in the final score (Age: 0.76 points/year, Stroke Severity NIHSS ≤5 = 9 points, NIHSS >5 = 21 points; to Find AF [AS5F]). The high-risk group defined by AS5F is characterized by a predicted risk between 5.2% and 40.8% for detection of pAF with a number needed to screen of 3 for the highest observed AS5F points within the study population. Regarding the low number of outcomes before generalization of AS5F, the results need replication.
Conclusion:
The AS5F score can select patients for prolonged ECG monitoring after ischemic stroke to detect pAF.
Classification Of Evidence:
This study provides Class I evidence that the AS5F score accurately identifies patients with ischemic stroke at a higher risk of pAF.
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