Screening
No country has yet established a national screening programme for AF. However, owing to an increasing body of evidence suggesting screening may be beneficial, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recommends:[1]
Undertaking opportunistic screening (by pulse-taking or ECG rhythm strip) for AF in people with hypertension and people ≥65 years of age
Considering opportunistic screening for AF in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea
Considering systematic screening to detect AF in people aged ≥75 years and those at high risk of stroke.
Several mobile health technologies are available. The ESC recommends exercising caution in their clinical use; many are not clinically validated.[1] NICE advises that although some new mobile devices show promise, further research is needed to guide future practice.
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