Early detection of occult atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a very common arrhythmia and significantly increases stroke risk. This risk can be mitigated with oral anticoagulation, but AF is often asymptomatic, or occult, preventing timely detection and treatment. Accordingly, occult AF may cause stroke before it is clinically diagnosed. Currently, guidelines for the early detection and treatment of occult AF are limited. This review addresses recent advancements in occult AF detection methods, identification of populations at high risk for occult AF, the treatment of occult AF with oral anticoagulation, as well as ongoing trials that may answer critically important questions regarding occult AF screening.
Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
Joseph Walker
JW
Keach
Department of Cardiology, Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver, Colorado, USA Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Steven M
SM
Bradley
Department of Cardiology, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Mintu P
MP
Turakhia
Department of Cardiology, Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver, Colorado, USA Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Thomas M
TM
Maddox
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003935:Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular / Q000592:standards; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000925:Anticoagulants; D015415:Biomarkers