Table 3.
Summary of randomized trials of atrial fibrillation screening
| Author/study | Year | Country | Setting | Screened age (years) | N | Modality/approach | Screening period | New atrial fibrillation detection rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan and Mant.22 | 2002 | United Kingdom | Primary care | All | Systematic (N=1,499) | Pulse assessment and lead II rhythm strip | 6 months | 0.8% |
| Opportunistic (N=1,502) | Clinical pulse assessment with discretionary 12-lead ECG if abnormal | 6 months | 0.5% | |||||
| Fitzmaurice et al. (SAFE)49 | 2007 | United Kingdom | Primary care | ≥ 65 | Systematic (N=4,933) | Pulse assessment and 12-lead ECG | One-time | 1.62% |
| Opportunistic (N=4,933) | Pulse assessment and 12-lead ECG if abnormal | One-time | 1.64% | |||||
| No screening (N=4,936) | - | - | 1.04% | |||||
| Halcox et al. (REHEARSE-AF)59 | 2017 | United Kingdom | Primary care or research visits | > 65 | Screening (N=501) | Single-lead handheld ECG twice weekly | 12 months | 3.7% |
| No screening (N=500) | - | - | 1.0% | |||||
| Steinhubl et al. (mSToPS)48 | 2018 | United States | Health plan enrollees | ≥ 75, ≥ 55 (male with 1 AF/stroke risk factor), ≥ 65 (female with 1 AF/stroke risk factor) | Immediate screening (N=1,366) | Single-lead patch monitor for up to 14 days (screened period) | 4 months | 3.9% |
| Delayed screening (N=1,293) | Single-lead patch monitor for up to 14 days (unscreened period) | 4 months | 0.9% |