title: Device-identified atrial fibrillation at pacing clinics. Should it guide anticoagulation?
abstract: In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of devices implanted following improvement in their safety profile, extension of indications and reduction in cost. Although the reason remains largely the beneficial effect on heart rhythm stabilisation, implanted devices might also have additional advantages, notably identification of silent arrhythmia. Should clinicians therefore act on device-identified atrial fibrillation (AF) and should such identification be used to guide anticoagulation management? This review evaluates the current evidence on the management of device-identified asymptomatic AF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Merinopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Royal Brompton Hospital, London and Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust and Imperial College London, UK; Department of Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Claire E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Raphael
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Physiology, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Alaina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yardley
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goonewardene
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Royal Brompton Hospital, London and Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust and Imperial College London, UK. Electronic address: v.vassiliou@rbht.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Vassilios S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Vassiliou
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants
keywords: Anticoagulation; Atrial fibrillation; Implanted device; Pacemaker; Stroke; Thromboembolic risk