Experts aim to identify key research priorities related to AF screening

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of complications including ischemic stroke, mental retardation, heart failure, myocardial infarction and death. AF is often not indicated until complications such as stroke or heart failure occur.

While there is a strong interest from the general public and clinicians in the earlier detection of AF, there is uncertainty about the most appropriate strategies for undiagnosed AF and the medical prognosis and therapeutic effects of AF. detected by screening.

A new report led by Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) researcher Emelia J. Benjamin, MD, ScM, builds on a recent National Institute of Heart, Lung, and Blood research workshop that was aims to identify key research priorities related to AF screening.

Global experts reviewed key information gaps and identified critical research priorities in the following areas: 1) the location of favorable screening; 2) AF as a risk factor, risk signal, or both; 3) relationship between AF burden detected by long-term study and outcomes / treatments; 4) design of potential randomized trials of systematic AF screening with clinically relevant results; and 5) place of AF screening after ischemic stroke.

We hope that the research gaps and opportunities outlined in the workshop will narrow down the AF screening study to improve the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of patients with undiagnosed AF. “

Emelia J. Benjamin, Professor of Medicine, BUSM and Corresponding Author

According to the researchers a number of topics emerged from the workshop to advance the field of AF screening including developing a robust evidence base and sharing data across studies and the need for diverse patient subgroups study (age, gender, race / ethnicity, urban / rural and comorbidities).

The researchers add that careful attention must be paid to both the potential benefits and adverse consequences of AF screening strategies on the patient (anxiety, testing, treatment difficulties) and the health system (e.g., differences, costs, and clinical liability and obesity) before recommending extensive screening.

These findings appear in the journal Circulation.