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Hypertension and atrial fibrillation are closely related. However, hypertension is already prevalent in young adults, but atrial fibrillation usually occurs in the elderly. In the present analysis, we investigated incident atrial fibrillation in relation to new-onset hypertension in an elderly Chinese population. Our study participants were elderly (≥65 years) hypertensive residents, recruited from community health centers in the urban Shanghai (n = 4161). Previous and new-onset hypertension were defined as the use of antihypertensive medication or elevated systolic/diastolic blood pressure (≥140/90 mmHg), respectively, at entry and during follow-up on ≥ 2 consecutive clinic visits. Atrial fibrillation was detected by a 30-s single-lead electrocardiography (ECG, AliveCor® Heart Monitor) and further evaluated with a regular 12-lead ECG. During a median of 2.1 years follow-up, the incidence rate of atrial fibrillation was 7.60 per 1000 person-years in all study participants; it was significantly higher in patients with new-onset hypertension (n = 368) than those with previous hypertension (n = 3793, 15.76 vs. 6.77 per 1000 person-years, P = 0.02). After adjustment for confounding factors, the hazard ratio for the incidence of atrial fibrillation was 2.21 (95% confidence interval 1.15-4.23, P = 0.02) in patients with new-onset hypertension versus those with previous hypertension. The association was even stronger in those aged ≥ 75 years (hazard ratio 2.70, 95% confidence interval 1.11-6.56, P = 0.03). In patients with previous hypertension, curvilinear association (P for non-linear trend = 0.04) was observed between duration of hypertension and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation, with a higher risk in short- and long-term than mid-term duration of hypertension. Our study showed a significant association between new-onset hypertension and the incidence of atrial fibrillation in elderly Chinese. In an elderly Chinese population with previous and new-onset hypertension, we found that the new-onset hypertension during follow-up, compared with previous hypertension, was associated with a significantly higher risk of incident atrial fibrillation. In patients with previous hypertension, curvilinear association was observed between duration of hypertension and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation, with a higher risk in short- and long-term than mid-term duration of hypertension., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Japanese Society of Hypertension.)

Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: J.J.O., K.G., N.L., and B.F. report investigator-initiated grants to their institution from Pfizer/BMS. B.F. also reports prior fees and advisory board honoraria from Bayer Pharma AG, Daiichi-Sankyo, Omron, and Pfizer/BMS. L.N. reports speaker fees from Daiichi-Sankyo and grants and honoraria from Pfizer/BMS, Bayer, and Boehringer Ingelheim. J.W.O. and A.L.G. have no disclosures to make. C.H. reports independent research grants from Amgen and Sanofi and honoraria for education/advisory boards from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Pfizer.

Objective: To assess whether atrial fibrillation (AF) self-screening stations in general practice waiting rooms improve AF screening, diagnosis, and stroke risk management., Design, Setting: Intervention study (planned duration: twelve weeks) in six New South Wales general practices (two in rural locations, four in greater metropolitan Sydney), undertaken during 28 August 2020 - 5 August 2021., Participants: People aged 65 years or more who had not previously been diagnosed with AF, and had appointments for face-to-face GP consultations. People with valvular AF were excluded., Intervention: AF self-screening station and software, integrated with practice electronic medical record programs, that identified and invited participation by eligible patients, and exported single-lead electrocardiograms and automated evaluations to patients' medical records., Main Outcome Measures: Screening rate; incidence of newly diagnosed AF during intervention and pre-intervention periods; prescribing of guideline-recommended anticoagulant medications., Results: Across the six participating practices, 2835 of 7849 eligible patients (36.1%) had face-to-face GP appointments during the intervention period, of whom 1127 completed AF self-screening (39.8%; range by practice: 12-74%). AF was diagnosed in 49 screened patients (4.3%), 44 of whom (90%) had CHA 2 DS 2 -VA scores of 2 or more (high stroke risk). The incidence of newly diagnosed AF during the pre-intervention period was 11 cases per 1000 eligible patients; during the intervention period, it was 22 per 1000 eligible patients (screen-detected: 17 per 1000 eligible patients; otherwise detected: 4.6 per 1000 eligible patients). Prescribing of oral anticoagulation therapy for people newly diagnosed with AF and high stroke risk was similar during the pre-intervention (20 of 24, 83%) and intervention periods (46 of 54, 85%)., Conclusions: AF self-screening in general practice waiting rooms is a feasible approach to increasing AF screening and diagnosis rates by reducing time barriers to screening by GPs. AF self-screening could reduce the number of AF-related strokes., Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12620000233921 (prospective)., (© 2022 The Authors. Medical Journal of Australia published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of AMPCo Pty Ltd.)

Background: Screening for atrial fibrillation before onset of symptoms and the subsequent initiation of oral anticoagulants could prevent stroke and death. The most cost-effective strategy to screen for atrial fibrillation in a population at high risk aged 65 years and older is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether more frequent electrocardiography (ECG) recordings would significantly improve the detection of atrial fibrillation compared with annual ECG screenings., Methods: We did a randomised controlled trial that compared different screening frequencies of 30 s single-lead ECG (AliveCor Heart Monitor) in the detection of atrial fibrillation in Chinese residents (≥65 years) in five community health centres in Shanghai, China. Only participants without history of atrial fibrillation and without atrial fibrillation rhythm at baseline were eligible for inclusion in the trial. Random assignment was done with the use of a random number table and stratified for study site. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to annual or quarterly screening groups. The quarterly screening group was further randomly assigned in a 3:1 ratio to subgroups of quarterly screening and quarterly screening plus (which involved ECG screening once per week for the first month of follow-up, then quarterly for the remainder of follow-up). The primary outcome was the detection rate of atrial fibrillation. The intention-to-treat analysis was done for all randomly assigned patients who had at least one ECG recording during follow-up. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02990741, and terminated on Oct 31, 2020., Findings: Between April 17, 2017, and June 26, 2018, 8240 participants were randomly assigned to annual screening (n=4120), quarterly screening (n=3090), and quarterly screening plus (n=1030), with a mean number of ECG recordings of 1·6 (SD 0·5) for annual screening, 3·5 (1·5) for quarterly screening, and 5·2 (2·9) for quarterly screening plus during a median of 2·1 years follow-up (13 284 person-years). 73 incident cases of atrial fibrillation occurred: 26 in the annual screening group (4·1 per 1000 person-years) and 47 in the quarterly screening group (6·7 per 1000 person-years. Quarterly screening was associated with a significant increase in the detection rate of atrial fibrillation, compared with annual screening (hazard ratio [HR] 1·71; 95% CI 1·06-2·76; p=0·029). 40 incident cases were detected in quarterly screening (7·2 per 1000 person-years; HR compared to annual screening, 1·83; 95% CI 1·12-3·00; p=0·017) and seven in the quarterly screening plus group (4·8 per 1000 person-years; HR compared with annual screening, 1·24; 0·54-2·86; p=0·61). No significant difference was noted between quarterly screening and the quarterly screening plus group (HR of quarterly screening plus compared with quarterly screening, 0·68; 0·30-1·52; p=0·35)., Interpretation: Quarterly 30 s single-lead ECG screening was associated with a significantly higher detection rate of incident atrial fibrillation compared with annual screening, but additional once per week screenings in the first month did not yield an added predictive value. Quarterly screening might be considered in a general population at a high risk of atrial fibrillation, such as those aged 65 years and older., Funding: Bayer Healthcare Company., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests J-GW reports receiving lecture and consulting fees from Novartis, Omron, and Takeda; and grants from Bayer. BF reports grants from Bayer Healthcare Company and BMS-Pfizer; personal fees from Bayer Healthcare Company, BMS-Pfizer, Daiichi-Sankyo, and Omron; and non-financial support from Bayer, BMS-Pfizer, Daiichi-Sankyo, and Omron. All other authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

BACKGROUND Internationally, most atrial fibrillation (AF) management guidelines recommend opportunistic screening for AF in people ≥65 years of age and oral anticoagulant treatment for those at high stroke risk (CHA₂DS₂-VA≥2). However, gaps remain in screening and treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS General practitioners/nurses at practices in rural Australia (n=8) screened eligible patients (≥65 years of age without AF) using a smartphone ECG during practice visits. eHealth tools included electronic prompts, guideline-based electronic decision support, and regular data reports. Clinical audit tools extracted de-identified data. Results were compared with an earlier study in metropolitan practices (n=8) and nonrandomized control practices (n=69). Cost-effectiveness analysis compared population-based screening with no screening and included screening, treatment, and hospitalization costs for stroke and serious bleeding events. Patients (n=3103, 34%) were screened (mean age, 75.1±6.8 years; 47% men) and 36 (1.2%) new AF cases were confirmed (mean age, 77.0 years; 64% men; mean CHA₂DS₂-VA, 3.2). Oral anticoagulant treatment rates for patients with CHA₂DS₂-VA≥2 were 82% (screen detected) versus 74% (preexisting AF)( P =NS), similar to metropolitan and nonrandomized control practices. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for population-based screening was AU$16 578 per quality-adjusted life year gained and AU$84 383 per stroke prevented compared with no screening. National implementation would prevent 147 strokes per year. Increasing the proportion screened to 75% would prevent 177 additional strokes per year. CONCLUSIONS An AF screening program in rural practices, supported by eHealth tools, screened 34% of eligible patients and was cost-effective. Oral anticoagulant treatment rates were relatively high at baseline, trending upward during the study. Increasing the proportion screened would prevent many more strokes with minimal incremental cost-effectiveness ratio change. eHealth tools, including data reports, may be a valuable addition to future programs. REGISTRATION URL: https://www.anzctr.org.au. Unique identifier: ACTRN12618000004268.

With increasing use of handheld ECG devices for atrial fibrillation (AF) screening, it is important to understand their accuracy in community and hospital settings and how it differs among settings and other factors. A systematic review of eligible studies from community or hospital settings reporting the diagnostic accuracy of handheld ECG devices (ie, devices producing a rhythm strip) in detecting AF in adults, compared with a gold standard 12-lead ECG or Holter monitor, was performed. Bivariate hierarchical random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed using R V.3.6.0. The search identified 858 articles, of which 14 were included. Six studies recruited from community (n=6064 ECGs) and eight studies from hospital (n=2116 ECGs) settings. The pooled sensitivity was 89% (95% CI 81% to 94%) in the community and 92% (95% CI 83% to 97%) in the hospital. The pooled specificity was 99% (95% CI 98% to 99%) in the community and 95% (95% CI 90% to 98%) in the hospital. Accuracy of ECG devices varied: sensitivity ranged from 54.5% to 100% and specificity ranged from 61.9% to 100%. Meta-regression showed that setting (p=0.032) and ECG device type (p=0.022) significantly contributed to variations in sensitivity and specificity. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of single-lead handheld ECG devices were high. Setting and handheld ECG device type were significant factors of variation in sensitivity and specificity. These findings suggest that the setting including user training and handheld ECG device type should be carefully reviewed., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objectives: International guidelines recommend opportunistic screening for atrial fibrillation (AF); however, there is no current data to inform how often to repeat screening. We aimed to investigate the incremental annual yield and stroke risk of new AF cases in individuals screened annually over 4 years., Design: A retrospective cohort study., Setting: Hokuriku Health Service Association, Toyama prefecture, Japan., Participants: Employees and their families receiving annual health examinations from Hokuriku Health Service Association., Intervention: Each subject received an annual health examination (including 12-lead ECG) from 2014 to 2017. Only subjects with baseline ECGs in 2012 and/or 2013 were included., Main Outcome Measures: Rates (cases/100 person-years) of new AF identified each year for 4 consecutive years of screening (stratified according to gender and age groups). Calculated stroke risk of new AF cases using modified CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores (without heart failure data) (CHA 2 DS 2 VASc = C: congestive heart failure [1 point]; H: hypertension [1 point]; A2: age 65-74 years [1 point] or age ≥75 years [2 points]; D: diabetes mellitus [1 point]; S: prior stroke or transient ischemic attack [2 points]; VA: vascular disease [1 point]; and Sc: sex category [female] [1 point]) RESULTS: In 2014, 88 218 subjects had an ECG (46.8±12.5 years; 64% men): identifying 346 (0.39%) known AF and 69 (0.08%) new AF. The incidence rate of new AF increased with age from 0.01% (<50 years) to 0.98% (≥75 years) and was higher in men (0.1%) than women (0.05%). Repeated annual screening over 4 years identified a consistent new AF yield 0.06%-0.10% per year (0.33%-0.55% ≥65 years). Forty-two per cent of all new AF cases, and 76% of cases aged ≥65 years, had a class-1 oral anticoagulation (OAC) recommendation (modified CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score ≥2 men, ≥3 women)., Conclusions: Repeated annual ECG screening of the same population provides a consistent yield of new AF each year. The majority of new AF (≥65 years) are eligible for anticoagulation for stroke prevention. Although AF prevalence and incidence are lower in Japan than Western countries, 2318 new cases would be identified in Toyama prefecture each year with annual screening, of whom ~927 would have a high stroke risk with a recommendation for OAC therapy., Competing Interests: Competing interests: SBF reports grants, personal fees and non-financial support from Bayer, grants, personal fees and non-financial support from BMS-PFizer, personal fees and non-financial support from Daiichi-Sankyo, outside the submitted work., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is underdiagnosed and especially undertreated in China. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of unknown and untreated AF in community residents (≥65 years old) and to determine whether an education intervention could improve oral anticoagulant (OAC) prescription., Methods and Findings: We performed a single-time point screening for AF with a handheld single-lead electrocardiography (ECG) in Chinese residents (≥65 years old) in 5 community health centers in Shanghai from April to September 2017. Disease education and advice on referral to specialist clinics for OAC treatment were provided to all patients with actionable AF (newly detected or undertreated known AF) at the time of screening, and education was reinforced at 1 month. Follow-up occurred at 12 months. In total, 4,531 participants were screened (response rate 94.7%, mean age 71.6 ± 6.3 years, 44% male). Overall AF prevalence was 4.0% (known AF 3.5% [n = 161], new AF 0.5% [n = 22]). The 183 patients with AF were older (p < 0.001), taller (p = 0.02), and more likely to be male (p = 0.01), and they had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease than those without AF (p < 0.001). In total, 85% (155/183) of patients were recommended for OAC treatment by the established guidelines (CHA2DS2-VASc ≥ 2 for men; ≥ 3 for women). OAC prescription rate for known AF was 20% (28/138), and actionable AF constituted 2.8% of all those screened. At the 12-month follow-up in 103 patients (81% complete), despite disease education and advice on specialist referral, only 17 attended specialist clinics, and 4 were prescribed OAC. Of those not attending specialist clinics, 71 chose instead to attend community health centers or secondary hospital clinics, with none prescribed OAC, and 15 had no review. Of the 17 patients with new AF and a class 1 recommendation for OAC, only 3 attended a specialist clinic, and none were prescribed OAC. Of the 28 AF patients taking OAC at baseline, OAC was no longer taken in 4. Ischemic stroke (n = 2) or death (n = 3) occurred in 5/126 (4%), with none receiving OAC. As screening was performed at a single time point, some paroxysmal AF cases may have been missed; thus, the rate of new AF may be underestimated., Conclusions: We demonstrated a noticeable gap in AF detection and treatment in community-based elderly Chinese: actionable AF constituted a high proportion of those screened. Disease education and advice on specialist referral are insufficient to close the gap. Before more frequent or intensive screening for unknown AF could be recommended in China, greater efforts must be made to increase appropriate OAC therapy in known AF to prevent AF-related stroke., Competing Interests: I have read the journal's policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: BF reports grants, personal fees, and non-financial support from Bayer; grants, personal fees, and non-financial support from BMS-PFizer; personal fees and non-financial support from Daiichi-Sankyo, outside the submitted work; and personal fees and non-financial support by Omron. The remaining authors have declared that no competing interests exist. AliveCor provided ECG Heart Monitors for study purposes: the investigators are not affiliated with or have any financial or other interest in AliveCor.

Background: Non-adherence to medications is common in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), increasing the risk of stroke, co-morbidities, and AF symptoms. Understanding factors influencing medication adherence is important in providing holistic care to patients with AF. This study aimed to explore medication adherence in patients with AF, and explore associations with health literacy, cognition, or AF knowledge., Methods: A single-centre pilot study, using survey questionnaires and open questions. Patients with a primary cardiac diagnosis, with AF as primary or secondary diagnosis, were eligible for recruitment. During hospitalisation, adherence to cardiac medications was assessed using the Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medication Scale (BAASIS). Health literacy, cognition, and AF knowledge were assessed through validated questionnaires. Facilitators and barriers for medication adherence were obtained through open-ended question and coded using a content analysis approach., Results: Fifty-four (54) patients were recruited (61% male, mean age 71±11). Twenty-two (22) participants (41%) were classified as non-adherent using the BAASIS; with a corresponding self-reported adherence of 87.7% in non-adherent participants compared to 97.8% in adherent participants. No associations were identified between medication adherence and cognition, health literacy, or AF knowledge. Facilitators for adherence included external assistance, routines, and medication knowledge, and these were reported by both adherent and non-adherent participants. Non-adherent participants reported more barriers including medication concerns, forgetfulness, and lifestyle factors., Conclusions: Large numbers of AF patients are likely to be non-adherent to medications. Medication adherence is influenced by multiple factors, individual to each patient. Diverse strategies are required to ensure adherence to cardiac medications., (Copyright © 2019 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) in people aged ≥65 years is recommended by international guidelines. The Atrial Fibrillation Screen, Management And guideline-Recommended Therapy (AF-SMART) studies of opportunistic AF screening in 16 metropolitan and rural general practices were conducted from November 2016-June 2019. These studies trialled custom-designed eHealth tools to support all stages of AF screening in general practice., Methods: A realist evaluation of the AF-SMART studies, which aimed to explain the circumstances in which the program worked (or not) to increase the proportion of people screened for AF. The initial program theory was based on our previous research, policy documents and screening studies. To test this, we conducted 45 semi-structured interviews with general practitioners (GPs), nurses and practice managers across all participating practices, and collected observational and quantitative screening data. These data were analysed and interpreted to refine the program theory., Results: GPs/nurses liked the eHealth tools, although technical problems sometimes disrupted screening. Time was the main barrier to screening for GPs/nurses, so systems need to be very efficient. Practices with leadership from a senior GP 'screening champion' had broader uptake, especially from the nursing team. Providing regular feedback on screening data was beneficial for quality improvement and motivation. Clear protocols for follow-up of abnormal results were required for successful nurse-led screening in a hierarchical system. Participation in the program had broader benefits of improving AF knowledge and raising the profile of cardiovascular health in the practice. Screening for a shorter, more intense period (eg during influenza vaccination) worked well for practices where sufficient staff time was allocated., Conclusions: Introducing an AF screening program is likely to be successful in contexts where there is a senior GP 'screening champion', a clear protocol exists for abnormal results, and there is regular data reporting to staff. These contexts link to mechanisms around motivation, leadership, empowerment of nurses, and efficient screening systems. The contexts and mechanisms contribute to the longer-term outcomes of increasing the proportion of people screened and treated for AF, which is recommended by guidelines as a key strategy for the prevention of AF-related stroke., Trial Registrations: AF SMART (metropolitan): ACTRN12616000850471 (Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry). AF SMART II (rural): ACTRN12618000004268 (Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry).

Background: The precise age distribution and calculated stroke risk of screen-detected atrial fibrillation (AF) is not known. Therefore, it is not possible to determine the number needed to screen (NNS) to identify one treatable new AF case (NNS-Rx) (i.e., Class-1 oral anticoagulation [OAC] treatment recommendation) in each age stratum. If the NNS-Rx is known for each age stratum, precise cost-effectiveness and sensitivity simulations can be performed based on the age distribution of the population/region to be screened. Such calculations are required by national authorities and organisations responsible for health system budgets to determine the best age cutoffs for screening programs and decide whether programs of screening should be funded. Therefore, we aimed to determine the exact yield and calculated stroke-risk profile of screen-detected AF and NNS-Rx in 5-year age strata., Methods and Findings: A systematic review of Medline, Pubmed, and Embase was performed (January 2007 to February 2018), and AF-SCREEN international collaboration members were contacted to identify additional studies. Twenty-four eligible studies were identified that performed a single time point screen for AF in a general ambulant population, including people ≥65 years. Authors from eligible studies were invited to collaborate and share patient-level data. Statistical analysis was performed using random effects logistic regression for AF detection rate, and Poisson regression modelling for CHA2DS2-VASc scores. Nineteen studies (14 countries from a mix of low- to middle- and high-income countries) collaborated, with 141,220 participants screened and 1,539 new AF cases. Pooled yield of screening was greater in males across all age strata. The age/sex-adjusted detection rate for screen-detected AF in ≥65-year-olds was 1.44% (95% CI, 1.13%-1.82%) and 0.41% (95% CI, 0.31%-0.53%) for <65-year-olds. New AF detection rate increased progressively with age from 0.34% (<60 years) to 2.73% (≥85 years). Neither the choice of screening methodology or device, the geographical region, nor the screening setting influenced the detection rate of AF. Mean CHA2DS2-VASc scores (n = 1,369) increased with age from 1.1 (<60 years) to 3.9 (≥85 years); 72% of ≥65 years had ≥1 additional stroke risk factor other than age/sex. All new AF ≥75 years and 66% between 65 and 74 years had a Class-1 OAC recommendation. The NNS-Rx is 83 for ≥65 years, 926 for 60-64 years; and 1,089 for <60 years. The main limitation of this study is there are insufficient data on sociodemographic variables of the populations and possible ascertainment biases to explain the variance in the samples., Conclusions: People with screen-detected AF are at elevated calculated stroke risk: above age 65, the majority have a Class-1 OAC recommendation for stroke prevention, and >70% have ≥1 additional stroke risk factor other than age/sex. Our data, based on the largest number of screen-detected AF collected to date, show the precise relationship between yield and estimated stroke risk profile with age, and strong dependence for NNS-RX on the age distribution of the population to be screened: essential information for precise cost-effectiveness calculations., Competing Interests: I have read the journal's policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: GYHL reports consultancy and speaker fees from Bayer, Bayer/Janssen, BMS/Pfizer, Biotronik, Medtronic, Boehringer Ingelheim, Microlife, Roche, and Daiichi-Sankyo outside the submitted work. No fees were received personally. YC reports grants from Bayer during the conduct of the study. DDM reports grants from National Institutes of Health, grants and other research support from Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, grants, personal fees and other from Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer, other research support from Apple, Samsung Electronics, grants from National Science Foundation during the conduct of the study; other from Mobile Sense Technologies and grants from Philips outside the submitted work. MP reports consultancy activity for Boehringer Ingelheim. JJO reports grants from Pfizer, nonfinancial support from Alivecor, outside the submitted work. JW reports grants from Bayer during the conduct of the study. GHM reports grants from Belgian Heart Rhythm Association during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer, Daiichi Sankyo, BMS/Pfizer, St Jude Medical outside the submitted work. RBS reports personal fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer Pharma outside the submitted work. JSH reports grants from Medtronic, grants from Bristol-Meyers-Squibb/Pfizer outside the submitted work. FDRH reports personal fees from BMS/Pfizer, BI, and Bayer outside the submitted work. FRQ reports personal fees from Bayer, personal fees from Servier, grants from Bayer, grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, personal fees from BMS outside the submitted work. BF reports grants, personal fees and nonfinancial support from Bayer, grants, personal fees and nonfinancial support from BMS-Pfizer, personal fees and non-financial support from Daiichi-Sankyo outside the submitted work. PSW reports grants and personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, grants from Philips Medical Systems, grants and personal fees from Sanofi-Aventis, grants and personal fees from Bayer Vital, grants from Daiichi Sankyo Europe, personal fees from Bayer HealthCare, personal fees from Astra Zeneca, personal fees and nonfinancial support from DiaSorin, nonfinancial support from I.E.M., grants from Evonik, outside the submitted work. FK reports grants from Boehringer Ingelheim outside the submitted work. RT reports grants and personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim during the conduct of the study. In addition, RT has a patent as a co-inventor of the MyDiagnostick with royalties paid. The following authors have declared that no competing interests exist: VWL, AD, JH, NL, JO, LAPDT, AKR, RKS, SAC, TFC, JN, EMR, WK, JM, JM, LN, JWM, BPY, TM, JJGD, AS, BS, JSL, and DAF.

Background This eH ealth implementation study aimed to evaluate strategies to promote opportunistic atrial fibrillation ( AF ) screening using electronic screening prompts and improve treatment using electronic decision support ( EDS ) software. Methods and Results An electronic screening prompt appeared whenever an eligible patient's (aged ≥65 years, no AF diagnosis) medical record was opened in participating general practices. General practitioners and practice nurses offered screening using a smartphone ECG, with validated AF algorithm. Guideline-based EDS was provided to assist treatment decisions. Deidentified data were collected from practices using a data extraction tool. General practices (n=8) across Sydney, Australia, screened for a median of 6 months. A total of 1805 of 11 476 (16%) eligible patients who attended were screened (44% men, mean age 75.7 years). Screening identified 19 (1.1%) new cases of AF (mean age, 79 years; mean CHA 2 DS 2 - VAS c, 3.7; 53% men). General practitioners (n=30) performed 70% of all screenings (range 1-448 patients per general practitioner). The proportion of patients with AF who had CHA 2 DS 2 - VAS c ≥2 for men or ≥3 for women prescribed oral anticoagulants was higher for those diagnosed during the study: 15 of 18 (83%) for screen-detected and 39 of 46 (85%) for clinically detected, compared with 933 of 1306 (71%) patients diagnosed before the study ( P<0.001). The EDS was accessed 111 times for patients with AF and for 4 of 19 screen-detected patients. Conclusions The eH ealth tools showed promise. Adherence to guideline-based oral anticoagulant prescription was significantly higher in patients diagnosed during the study period, although the EDS was only used in a minority. While the proportion of eligible patients screened and EDS use was relatively low, further refinements may improve uptake in clinical practice. Clinical Trial Registration URL : www.anzctr.org.au . Unique identifier: ACTRN 12616000850471.

Introduction: Screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) in people ≥65 years is now recommended by guidelines and expert consensus. While AF is often asymptomatic, it is the most common heart arrhythmia and is associated with increased risk of stroke. Early identification and treatment with oral anticoagulants can substantially reduce stroke risk. The general practice setting is ideal for opportunistic screening and provides a natural pathway for treatment for those identified.This study aims to investigate the feasibility of implementing screening for AF in rural general practice using novel electronic tools. It will assess whether screening will fit within an existing workflow to quickly and accurately identify AF, and will potentially inform a generalisable, scalable approach., Methods and Analysis: Screening with a smartphone ECG will be conducted by general practitioners and practice nurses in rural general practices in New South Wales, Australia for 3-4 months during 2018-2019. Up to 10 practices will be recruited, and we aim to screen 2000 patients aged ≥65 years. Practices will be given an electronic screening prompt and electronic decision support to guide evidence-based treatment for those with AF. De-identified data will be collected using a clinical audit tool and qualitative interviews will be conducted with selected practice staff. A process evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis will also be undertaken. Outcomes include implementation success (proportion of eligible patients screened, fidelity to protocol), proportion of people screened identified with new AF and rates of treatment with anticoagulants and antiplatelets at baseline and completion. Results will be compared against an earlier metropolitan study and a 'control' dataset of practices., Ethics and Dissemination: Ethics approval was received from the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee on 27 February 2018 (Project no.: 2017/1017). Results will be disseminated through various forums, including peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations., Trial Registration Number: ACTRN12618000004268; Pre-results., Competing Interests: Competing interests: NL and BF report grants from BMS/Pfizer during the conduct of the study. RW and AP report other financial interests from George Health, outside the submitted work. CF reports personal fees from Pfizer outside the submitted work. LN reports grants from Pfizer/BMS and Boehringer Ingelheim outside the submitted work. BF reports prior fees and advisory board honoraria from Bayer Pharma AG, Boehringer Ingelheim, and BMS/Pfizer but for the past year has removed himself from pharmaceutical advisory boards and receives speaker fees only for accredited educational meetings., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2018. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) developing after cardiac surgery is the most common postoperative complication with an incidence up to 50%. The presence of postoperative AF is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and economic burden. However, in Vietnam, data on AF postcardiac surgery are limited, in part due to a shortage of screening equipment. This project aims to identify the incidence, risk factors and postoperative complications of new-onset postoperative AF after cardiac surgery, and the feasibility of introducing a novel screening strategy using the combination of two portable devices to detect AF., Methods and Analysis: This is a feasibility study examining patients who are (1) ≥18 years old; (2) undergoing coronary artery bypass graft and/or valve surgery and (3) in normal sinus rhythm prior to their operation. Patients with congenital heart disease, a prior history of AF or those who require a pacemaker after surgery will be excluded. All patients will be followed up for the duration of their hospitalisation. The screening strategy will include monitoring the continuous ECG tracing in the intensive care unit, and if AF is suspected, a 30 s lead-1 ECG will be recorded using the smartphone-based AliveCor Kardia Mobile. On the postoperative wards, blood pressure will be measured three times daily using a modified blood pressure device (Microlife BP200 Afib): and if AF is suspected a 30 s ECG will be recorded using the AliveCor Kardia Mobile. A 12-lead ECG may be ordered subsequently if clinically indicated. The primary outcome is the incidence of postoperative AF. Secondary outcomes include establishing the risk factors and complications associated with postoperative AF; and the barriers and facilitators of the screening strategy., Ethics and Dissemination: Ethics approval was granted by Scientific Board of Cardiovascular Centre, E Hospital on 28 September, 2017. Study results will be disseminated through local and international conferences and peer-reviewed publications., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2018. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is associated with increased stroke risk and mortality post-discharge. POAF is often considered transient; however, recurrence is likely under-recognized as symptoms are an unreliable guide. Surveillance post-discharge may identify asymptomatic POAF recurrences in patients discharged in sinus rhythm. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies investigating POAF recurrence post-discharge, in patients with new-onset POAF following cardiac surgery who reverted to sinus rhythm prior to discharge. Two independent reviewers searched medical databases, clinical trial registries, reference lists and the Internet. After screening from 6525 studies, 8 studies were identified (n = 1157 participants, mean age 66 ± 10 years and 73% men). Monitoring methods included the following: telemetry during twice-daily exercise sessions (n = 2), continuous telemetry for 3 weeks (n = 1), daily 20-s electrocardiography (ECG) using wearable event recorder (n = 1), 30-s single-lead ECG, 4 times/day (n = 1) and implanted continuous monitoring (n = 2). The incidence rate of POAF recurrence identified through non-invasive monitoring in the first 4 weeks post-discharge was 28.3% [confidence interval (CI) 23.0-33.6%]; recurring 12 ± 5 days (mean ± SD) post-surgery. The incidence rate identified through implanted continuous monitoring was 61-100% within 2 years. Between 40% and 93% of episodes were asymptomatic. In one small study reporting stroke risk, 8 of 10 patients with recurrence were guideline-indicated (CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2) for oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention. Monitoring for POAF recurrence post-hospital discharge identifies significant numbers of early asymptomatic recurrences in patients at high risk of stroke who may benefit from anticoagulation for stroke prevention. More intense monitoring is more likely to identify POAF recurrence. Future research is required to investigate the prognostic significance of POAF recurrence, especially stroke and mortality risk.

Approximately 10% of ischemic strokes are associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) first diagnosed at the time of stroke. Detecting asymptomatic AF would provide an opportunity to prevent these strokes by instituting appropriate anticoagulation. The AF-SCREEN international collaboration was formed in September 2015 to promote discussion and research about AF screening as a strategy to reduce stroke and death and to provide advocacy for implementation of country-specific AF screening programs. During 2016, 60 expert members of AF-SCREEN, including physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, health economists, and patient advocates, were invited to prepare sections of a draft document. In August 2016, 51 members met in Rome to discuss the draft document and consider the key points arising from it using a Delphi process. These key points emphasize that screen-detected AF found at a single timepoint or by intermittent ECG recordings over 2 weeks is not a benign condition and, with additional stroke factors, carries sufficient risk of stroke to justify consideration of anticoagulation. With regard to the methods of mass screening, handheld ECG devices have the advantage of providing a verifiable ECG trace that guidelines require for AF diagnosis and would therefore be preferred as screening tools. Certain patient groups, such as those with recent embolic stroke of uncertain source (ESUS), require more intensive monitoring for AF. Settings for screening include various venues in both the community and the clinic, but they must be linked to a pathway for appropriate diagnosis and management for screening to be effective. It is recognized that health resources vary widely between countries and health systems, so the setting for AF screening should be both country- and health system-specific. Based on current knowledge, this white paper provides a strong case for AF screening now while recognizing that large randomized outcomes studies would be helpful to strengthen the evidence base., (© 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.)

Aims and Objectives: To investigate whether using the 'think aloud' technique during standard quality of life surveys provides useful additional information about patients' experiences of living with atrial fibrillation (AF) and health related quality of life (HRQoL)., Background: Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and has serious health consequences, particularly ischaemic stroke, high rates of morbidity and mortality and poor HRQoL. Standard quality-of-life questionnaires are often used but may not provide sufficient detail of patients' experiences living with AF., Design: A qualitative interpretative study based on semi-structured interviews., Methods: Patients with AF (n=12) were recruited from the Choice of Health Options in Prevention of Cardiovascular Events-in Atrial Fibrillation (CHOICE-AF), a risk factor management program. Participants were interviewed using a 'think aloud' technique with questions guided by the AF Effects on Quality Of Life Questionnaire (AFEQT) and the Short Form-12 (SF-12). Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically., Results: Participants had a median age of 71 years (interquartile range 52 to 77 years), and included four women and eight men. Four themes were identified related to experiences of living with AF and HRQoL including: (1) the adverse impact of atrial fibrillation symptoms, treatments, and related knowledge; (2) loss of function or independence; (3) the influence of age; and (4) approach to life., Conclusions: Atrial fibrillation, especially in older adults, creates an additional layer of requirements for self-management onto existing self-care needs. Even for patients with relatively high HRQoL, the 'think aloud' technique together with standard HRQoL questionnaires can help identify additional issues that can be addressed by health professionals to improve the HRQoL of these patients., (Copyright © 2016 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: People with unknown atrial fibrillation (AF), who are often asymptomatic, have a substantially increased risk of stroke. Although recommended in European guidelines, AF screening is not routinely performed. Screening at the time of influenza vaccination presents an ideal opportunity to detect AF in large numbers in a primary care medical setting, with an existing annual recall system for patients aged ≥65 years., Design: Cross-sectional pilot study of handheld smartphone electrocardiogram (iECG) screening to identify unknown AF., Methods: General practices in Sydney, Australia, were recruited during the influenza-vaccination period of April-June 2015. Practice nurses screened patients aged ≥65 years with a 30-second iECG, which has a validated algorithm for detecting AF in real time. In order to confirm the accuracy of the algorithm, two research cardiologists reviewed de-identified iECGs. In order to explore barriers and enablers, semi-structured interviews were conducted with selected nurses, practice managers and general practitioners., Results: Five general practices were recruited, and 973/2476 (39%) patients attending influenza vaccination were screened. Screening took an average of 5 minutes (range 1.5-10 minutes); however, abnormal iECGs required additional time. Newly identified AF was found in 8/973 patients (0.8%). The sensitivity of the iECG automated algorithm was 95% (95% confidence interval: 83-99%) and the specificity was 99% (95% confidence interval: 98-100%). Screening by practice nurses was well accepted by practice staff. Key enablers were the confidence and competence of nurses and a 'designated champion' to lead screening at the practice. Barriers were practice specific, and mainly related to staff time and funding., Conclusions: Screening with iECG during influenza vaccination by primary care nurses is feasible and well accepted by practice staff. Addressing barriers is likely to increase uptake., (© The European Society of Cardiology 2016.)

Objectives: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) occurs in 25-40% of patients following cardiac surgery, and is associated with a significant increased risk of stroke and mortality. Routine surveillance is not performed post-discharge; however, recurrence of POAF can occur in up to 30% of patients discharged in sinus rhythm. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of patients self-monitoring with an iPhone handheld electrocardiogram (iECG) to identify recurrence of POAF in the post-discharge period following cardiac surgery., Methods: Patients with POAF following cardiac surgery were eligible for participation if they had no prior history of atrial fibrillation (AF) and were discharged home in stable sinus rhythm. Participants were provided with an iECG and asked to record a 30-s iECG, four times per day for 4 weeks post-discharge. iECGs were automatically transmitted to a secure server, and reviewed for the presence of AF by the research team and a validated algorithm. All participants also received brief education on AF., Results: Forty-two participants completed the intervention (mean age 69 ± 9 years, 80% male). Self-monitoring for POAF recurrence using an iECG was feasible and acceptable, and participants felt empowered. Self-monitoring identified 24% (95% confidence interval, 12-39%) with an AF recurrence within 17 days of hospital discharge. These participants were significantly younger than those without AF recurrence (64 ± 7 vs 70 ± 10 years; P = 0.025), and had a significantly lower CHA2DS2-VASc score (2.3 ± 1.2 vs 3.7 ± 2.3; P = 0.007). However, 80% were at high enough stroke risk to warrant consideration of anticoagulation, i.e. CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2. Only 30% of recurrences were associated with palpitations. Participation also improved AF knowledge from 6.4 ± 1.8 to 7.3 ± 1.8 (P = 0.02), of a total score of 10., Conclusions: Providing patients with an iECG is a non-invasive, inexpensive, convenient and feasible way to monitor for AF recurrence in post-cardiac surgery patients. It also provides a mechanism to provide knowledge about the condition and also potentially reduce anxiety. The success of patients using this technology also has implications for extending the use of iECG self-monitoring to other patient groups such as those undergoing antiarrhythmic interventions for AF., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia, is associated with high risk of stroke and significant health burden. Recent emerging evidence suggests that modifying risk factor profiles of people with AF may assist to reduce stroke risk and health burden., Aims: The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of a brief telephone-based program targeted at improving cardiovascular risk, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with AF METHODS: This was a pilot study of a brief three-month telephone-based intervention for patients with diagnosed AF. During an initial face-to-face consultation participants were assisted to set individualized risk factor reduction goals and a treatment plan. Participants received phone-based follow-up for three months, with final assessment at three months., Results: Nineteen participants with AF were recruited, with age range 35-82 years (mean 65±13 years) and 53% were male. No changes were observed in either body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference measures. Participation was associated with significant improvement in reported symptom severity (p=0.005). There were non-significant improvements in physical activity, sedentary behavior, HRQoL, anxiety and depression., Conclusions: Participation in the CHOICE-AF pilot study did not improve BMI or waist circumference: however, it was associated with significant improvement in reported symptom severity. Further research is required to determine the most appropriate model of care for addressing risk factor management for people with AF., (© The European Society of Cardiology 2014.)

Background: Atrial fibrillation guidelines advocate screening to identify undiagnosed atrial fibrillation. Community pharmacies may provide an opportunistic venue for such screening., Objective: To explore the experience of implementing an atrial fibrillation screening service from the pharmacist's perspective including: the process of study implementation; the perceived benefits; the barriers and enablers; and the challenges for future sustainability of atrial fibrillation screening within pharmacies. Setting Interviews were conducted face-to-face in the pharmacy or via telephone, according to pharmacist preference., Method: The 'SEARCH-AF study' screened 1000 pharmacy customers aged ≥65 years using an iPhone electrocardiogram, identifying 1.5 % with undiagnosed atrial fibrillation. Nine pharmacists took part in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed in full and thematically analysed., Main Outcome Measure: Qualitative analysis of the experience of implementing an AF screening service from the pharmacist's perspective., Results: Four broad themes relating to service provision were identified: (1) interest and engagement in atrial fibrillation screening by pharmacists, customers, and doctors with the novel, easy-to-use electrocardiogram technology serving as an incentive to undergo screening and an education tool for pharmacists to use with customers; (2) perceived benefits to the pharmacist including increased job satisfaction, improvement in customer relations and pharmacy profile by fostering enhanced customer care and the educational role of pharmacists; (3) implementation barriers including managing workflow, and enablers such as personal approaches for recruitment, and allocating time to discuss screening process and fears; and, (4) potential for sustainable future implementation including remuneration linked to government or pharmacy incentives, combined cardiovascular screening, and automating sections of risk-assessments using touch-screen technology., Conclusion: Atrial fibrillation screening in pharmacies is well accepted by pharmacists and customers. Many pharmacists combined atrial fibrillation screening with other health screens reporting improved time-efficiency and greater customer satisfaction. Widespread implementation of atrial fibrillation screening requires longterm funding, which could be provided for a combined cardiovascular screening service. Further research could focus on feasibility and cost-effectiveness of combined cardiovascular screening in pharmacies.

Introduction: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs in 30-40% of patients after cardiac surgery. Identification of recurrent postoperative AF is required to initiate evidence-based management to reduce the risk of subsequent stroke. However, as AF is often asymptomatic, recurrences may not be detected after discharge. This study determines feasibility and impact of a self-surveillance programme to identify recurrence of postoperative AF in the month of posthospital discharge., Methods and Analysis: This is a feasibility study, using a cross-sectional study design, of self-screening for AF using a hand-held single-lead iPhone electrocardiograph device (iECG). Participants will be recruited from the cardiothoracic surgery wards of the Royal North Shore Hospital and North Shore Private Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Cardiac surgery patients admitted in sinus rhythm and experiencing a transient episode of postoperative AF will be eligible for recruitment. Participants will be taught to take daily ECG recordings for 1 month posthospital discharge using the iECG and will be provided education regarding AF, including symptoms and health risks. The primary outcome is the feasibility of patient self-monitoring for AF recurrence using an iECG. Secondary outcomes include proportion of patients identified with recurrent AF; estimation of stroke risk and patient knowledge. Process outcomes and qualitative data related to acceptability of patient's use of the iECG and sustainability of the screening programme beyond the trial setting will also be collected., Ethics and Dissemination: Primary ethics approval was received on 25 February 2014 from Northern Sydney Local Health District Human Resource Ethics Committee, and on 17 July 2014 from North Shore Private Hospital Ethics Committee. Results will be disseminated via forums including, but not limited to, peer-reviewed publications and presentation at national and international conferences., Trial Registration Number: ACTRN12614000383662., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.)

Atrial fibrillation (AF) causes a third of all strokes, but often goes undetected before stroke. Identification of unknown AF in the community and subsequent anti-thrombotic treatment could reduce stroke burden. We investigated community screening for unknown AF using an iPhone electrocardiogram (iECG) in pharmacies, and determined the cost-effectiveness of this strategy.Pharmacists performedpulse palpation and iECG recordings, with cardiologist iECG over-reading. General practitioner review/12-lead ECG was facilitated for suspected new AF. An automated AF algorithm was retrospectively applied to collected iECGs. Cost-effectiveness analysis incorporated costs of iECG screening, and treatment/outcome data from a United Kingdom cohort of 5,555 patients with incidentally detected asymptomatic AF. A total of 1,000 pharmacy customers aged ≥65 years (mean 76 ± 7 years; 44% male) were screened. Newly identified AF was found in 1.5% (95% CI, 0.8-2.5%); mean age 79 ± 6 years; all had CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2. AF prevalence was 6.7% (67/1,000). The automated iECG algorithm showed 98.5% (CI, 92-100%) sensitivity for AF detection and 91.4% (CI, 89-93%) specificity. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of extending iECG screening into the community, based on 55% warfarin prescription adherence, would be $AUD5,988 (€3,142; $USD4,066) per Quality Adjusted Life Year gained and $AUD30,481 (€15,993; $USD20,695) for preventing one stroke. Sensitivity analysis indicated cost-effectiveness improved with increased treatment adherence.Screening with iECG in pharmacies with an automated algorithm is both feasible and cost-effective. The high and largely preventable stroke/thromboembolism risk of those with newly identified AF highlights the likely benefits of community AF screening. Guideline recommendation of community iECG AF screening should be considered.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is often asymptomatic and substantially increases stroke risk. A single-lead iPhone electrocardiograph (iECG) with a validated AF algorithm could make systematic AF screening feasible in general practice., Methods: A qualitative screening pilot study was conducted in three practices. Receptionists and practice nurses screened patients aged ≥65 years using an iECG (transmitted to a secure website) and general practitioner (GP) review was then provided during the patient's consultation. Fourteen semi-structured interviews with GPs, nurses, receptionists and patients were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically., Results: Eighty-eight patients (51% male; mean age 74.8 ± 8.8 years) were screened: 17 patients (19%) were in AF (all previously diagnosed). The iECG was well accepted by GPs, nurses and patients. Receptionists were reluctant, whereas nurses were confident in using the device, explaining and providing screening., Discussion: AF screening in general practice is feasible. A promising model is likely to be one delivered by a practice nurse, but depends on relevant contextual factors for each practice.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a significantly increased stroke risk which is highly preventable with appropriate oral anticoagulant therapy (OAC). However, AF may be asymptomatic and unrecognised prior to stroke. We aimed to determine if single time-point screening for AF could identify sufficient numbers with previously undiagnosed AF, to be effective for stroke prevention. This is a systematic review of clinical trials, by searching electronic medical databases, reference lists and grey literature. Studies were included if they evaluated a general ambulant adult population, using electrocardiography or pulse palpation to identify AF. We identified 30 individual studies (n=122,571, mean age 64 years, 54% male) in nine countries. Participants were recruited either from general practitioner and outpatient clinics (12 studies) or population screening/community advertisements (18 studies). Prevalence of AF across all studies was 2.3% (95% CI, 2.2-2.4%), increasing to 4.4% (CI, 4.1-4.6%) in those ≥65 years (16 studies, n= 27,884). Overall incidence of previously unknown AF (14 studies, n=67,772) was 1.0% (CI, 0.89-1.04%), increasing to 1.4% (CI, 1.2-1.6%) in those ≥65 years (8 studies, n= 18,189) in whom screening setting did not influence incidence identified. Of those with previously unknown AF, 67% were at high risk of stroke.Screening can identify 1.4% of the population ≥65 years with previously undiagnosed AF. Many of those identified would be eligible for, and benefit from OAC to prevent stroke. Given this incidence, community AF screening strategies in at risk older age groups could potentially reduce the overall health burden associated with AF.

Background: The burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) is escalating even though it is potentially modifiable. Affected persons, at high risk of stroke and death, are typically not targeted for risk reduction. We aimed to determine if risk-factor interventions can improve physical functioning, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and cardiovascular risk in AF., Methods: We conducted a systematic review of clinical trials evaluating lifestyle and biomedical risk reduction interventions in AF patients. Trials were identified by searching electronic databases, reference lists and grey literature. Trials were included if conducted by a health professional, and reported changes in multiple risk factor levels or HRQoL., Results: Five trials, solely exercise based, were identified (166 participants): two randomised controlled trials, one quasi-experimental and two pre-post designs. Exercise capacity improved after 2-12 months in the intervention group in all trials. This was assessed by maximal oxygen uptake (two trials, 2.5-5.4 ml/kg/min (17-32%) improvement, p < 0.02); six-minute walking distance (one trial, 114 m (27%) improvement, p < 0.001); cumulated work (one trial, 564 W/min (37%) improvement, p < 0.001) and incremental exercise testing (one trial, 11 m/min (10%) improvement, p = 0.05). Three trials evaluated heart rate (HR), demonstrating HR reduction at rest (7-13 bpm, p < 0.05) and during exercise (9 bpm, p < 0.05). Two trials measured HRQoL, both reporting significant improvements in SF-36 physical summary scores., Conclusions: Literature suggests risk reduction interventions for AF can improve exercise levels, HRQoL and reduce HR, but the evidence base is small, methodologically compromised and focused on physical functioning. High-quality research in this area is required in order to help the multitudes of people living with AF.