Atrial fibrillation (AF) screening is a feasible, low-cost adjunct to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening with potential to reduce ethnic inequities in stroke incidence, according to a study of Māori registered at primary health care practices in Auckland. Among 1933 Māori men (aged 60-74 years) and women (aged 65-74 years) screened for AAA, the prevalence of AF was 7.4%, including 2.4% without a code for AF on their medical record. However, more than half of those without a code had known AF, meaning the true prevalence of newly detected AF was 1.1% (n = 21). Among 19 individuals with newly detected high-risk AF, 10 started appropriate anticoagulation therapy within 6 months. Adverse clinical outcomes were noted in five of the nine individuals who did not commence anticoagulation therapy, including ischaemic stroke in one individual. Among those with previously diagnosed AF, use of anticoagulation therapy rose from 57% before screening to 83% at 6 months after screening. The study authors noted that effective measures are needed to ensure that newly diagnosed high-risk AF is managed according to best practice guidelines.
