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Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
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[Screening and diagnosis of atrial fibrillation]

Pierre Roumegou1, Bruno Degand1, François Le Gal1

  • 1Unité de rythmologie, centre cardio-vasculaire, CHU de Poitiers, Poitiers, France.

La Revue Du Praticien
|March 19, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) is important, especially for older adults, but evidence for its benefit is lacking. Ongoing studies aim to clarify optimal screening strategies and the impact of subclinical AF.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) is often asymptomatic, with stroke being the first clinical sign in some patients.
  • Current guidelines recommend opportunistic AF screening in individuals over 65 and systematic screening for those over 75.
  • While pulse taking is simple, connected devices offer increased screening frequency and digitalized tracings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current landscape of atrial fibrillation screening.
  • To highlight the unanswered questions regarding AF screening efficacy, optimal protocols, and the management of subclinical AF.
  • To emphasize the need for evidence from ongoing studies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current European Society of Cardiology guidelines for AF screening.
  • Discussion of traditional and novel (connected devices) screening methods.
  • Identification of knowledge gaps and areas for future research.

Main Results:

  • No definitive scientific evidence currently demonstrates a net benefit for AF screening.
  • Key questions remain regarding optimal screening duration, frequency, target populations, and the significance of subclinical AF.
  • The thromboembolic risk associated with AF burden is not fully quantified.

Conclusions:

  • While AF screening is recommended, its proven benefit is yet to be established.
  • Further research and results from ongoing studies are crucial to address current uncertainties.
  • Clarifying these aspects will optimize AF detection and management strategies.

Keywords:
Atrial Fibrillation

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