1. Detection of hidden atrial fibrillation in primary care using a long-term band-based ECG registration system: The DESCUUBRE-FA study.
- Author
-
Ximénez-Carrillo Á, Zapata-Wainberg G, Sastre R, Álvarez-Pasquín MJ, Javierre AP, Lozano T, Samir E, Perosanz L, González B, Sobrado M, and Vivancos J
- Subjects
- Aged, Electrocardiography, Electrocardiography, Ambulatory, Female, Humans, Male, Primary Health Care, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Atrial Fibrillation diagnosis, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension diagnosis, Ischemic Attack, Transient, Stroke diagnosis, Stroke etiology
- Abstract
Objective: To assess whether the use of a band-based electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring system improves the diagnostic accuracy of traditional diagnostic methods for the detection of atrial fibrillation (AF)., Methods: Multicenter and observational study of primary care patients at risk of AF. To be included, patients had to be aged ≥70 years, with no known AF, and have at least 1 major criterion (obesity, hyperthyroidism, heart failure) or 2 minor criteria (hypertension, diabetes, female sex, ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack or systemic embolism, COPD, dyslipidemia, ischemic heart disease, peripheral artery disease). All patients were monitored using the Nuubo™ system for a single 2-week period., Results: A total of 600 patients were included (median age 77 years; 70% women; 84.3% hypertension, 27.2% diabetes, 9.2% prior stroke). The global rate of diagnosis of new AF in the overall population was 2.83%. All patients with AF were anticoagulated. In numerical terms, patients with AF (vs no AF) had a higher number of supraventricular extrasystoles and episodes of supraventricular tachycardia, as well as longer P wave duration; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance. Overall, participants were very satisfied with the device, and no relevant limitations in daily activities were observed during the 2-week study period., Conclusions: In an elderly population at risk of AF, a band-based ECG monitoring approach applied for only 2 weeks detected approximately 3% of new cases of AF, leading to a change in antithrombotic therapy. Most participants considered the device easy to use and comfortable., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No potential conflicts of interest were declared by the authors. The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF