Implanted cardiac monitors indicate incidence of undiagnosed AFib may be substantial in high-risk patients
With the use of implanted cardiac monitors researchers found a substantial incidence (nearly 30 percent) of previously undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) after 18 months in patients at high risk of both AF and stroke, according to a study published by JAMA Cardiology . The study is being released to coincide with its presentation at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2017. Atrial fibrillation affects millions of people worldwide and increases with older age, hypertension , diabetes, and heart failure, conditions that are associated with increased stroke risk. Atrial fibrillation episodes may be symptomatic, asymptomatic (i.e., silent AF), or both. Heart failure or stroke can be the first clinical manifestation of AF. Recognition of previously undiagnosed AF and initiation of appropriate therapies is essential for stroke prevention. Minimally invasive prolonged electrocardiographic monitoring with small, insertable cardiac monitors (ICMs) placed under the skin cou...