General recommendations regarding AF diagnosis in the elderly
Recommendation	Grade of recommendation	Level of evidence
Inquiry about all medications in use and risk analysis of induced arrhythmias or prolonged QT	I	C
12-derivation EKG in all patients with irregular rhythm to diagnose AF, even in the absence of symptoms	I	C
12-derivation EKG in all patients with diagnosis of AF, at each clinical visit	IIb	C
24-h Holter for evaluation of HR control	IIa	B
24-h Holter as follow-up, after rhythm control, in asymptomatic patients	IIa	C
24-h Holter for patients who complain of palpitations and for those with sinus rhythm following rhythm control	I	C
24-h Holter for patients with sinus rhythm, after stroke, to investigate paroxysmal AF	I	C
Transthoracic echocardiography in all patients with AF, with no prior diagnosis of CHF	I	C
Transthoracic echocardiography in all patients with AF	IIa	C
Transesophageal echocardiography in patients with AF > 48 h, for reversion to SR	I	C
Transesophageal echocardiography in patients with AF, after stroke, to investigate emboligenic focus	IIb	C

AF: atrial fibrillation; CHF: congestive heart failure; EKG: electrocardiogram; HR: heart rate; SR: sinus rhythm.