title: Screening for atrial fibrillation with baseline and intermittent ECG recording in an out-of-hospital population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  the objective of this study is to investigate the detection rate of undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) with short intermittent ECG recordings during four weeks among out-of-hospital patients, having at least one additional risk factor (CHADS2) for stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight family practice centres and two hospital-based out-patient clinics in Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  989 out-of-hospital patients, without known AF, having one or more risk factors associated with stroke (CHADS2).
  
  
  METHODS
  All individuals were asked to perform 10-second handheld ECG recordings during 28 days, twice daily and when having palpitations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Episodes of AF on handheld ECG recordings were defined as irregular supraventricular extrasystoles in series with a duration of 10 seconds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  928 patients completed registration. AF was found in 35 of 928 patients; 3.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.7-5.2). These 35 patients had a mean age of 70.7 years (SD ± 7.7; range 53-85) and a median CHADS2 of 2 (range 1-4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intermittent handheld ECG recording over a four week period had a detection rate of 3.8% newly diagnosed AF, in a population of 928 out-of-hospital patients having at least one additional risk factor for stroke. Intermittent handheld ECG registration is a feasible method to detect AF in patients with an increased risk of stroke in whom oral anticoagulation (OAC) treatment is indicated.
authors.forename: Tijn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hendrikx
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hörnsten
authors.forename: Mårten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenqvist
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sandström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis; D054537:Atrioventricular Block / Q000175:diagnosis; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004244:Dizziness / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054138:Sinus Arrest, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis; D013548:Sweden; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult