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The Role of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices in the Detection and Treatment of Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation: A Review.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hess, PL; Healey, JS; Granger, CB; Connolly, SJ; Ziegler, PD; Alexander, JH; Kowey, PR; Ruff, CT; Flaker, G; Halperin, JL; Hart, RG; Lopes, RD
Published in: JAMA Cardiol
March 1, 2017

IMPORTANCE: Subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk for stroke. OBSERVATIONS: Subclinical AF is asymptomatic, short in duration, and usually detected with long-term, continuous monitoring. Most prior studies have explored its consequences using cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Although current prevalence estimates are derived from study populations with prior CIEDs, 3 trials will assess the time to a first AF diagnosis among patients receiving a CIED for purposes of AF detection. Stroke risk estimates are currently limited to patients with a prior CIED and vary widely, ranging from a hazard ratio of 0.87 (95% CI, 0.58-1.31) to 9.40 (95% CI, 1.80-47.00). Stroke risk pathogenesis may include factors that are proximately causal, upstream risk activators, and risk markers. The treatment of subclinical AF may be a useful stroke prevention strategy; however, no direct evidence of benefit from oral anticoagulation exists in this population. Two ongoing trials will assess the risk and benefit of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants among patients at high risk for stroke with a previously placed implantable CIED, but without a prior diagnosis of clinical AF. If clinical benefit is proven, then the cost-effectiveness of screening for and the treatment of subclinical AF will require additional study. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: At present, no evidence suggests that implanting a CIED to detect AF or initiating oral anticoagulation therapy among those in whom AF is detected is beneficial. Ongoing and future studies will identify people at high risk for developing subclinical AF and will evaluate the efficacy, safety, and economic value of oral anticoagulation therapy in this population.

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Published In

JAMA Cardiol

DOI

EISSN

2380-6591

Publication Date

March 1, 2017

Volume

2

Issue

3

Start / End Page

324 / 331

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk Factors
  • Humans
  • Electrodes, Implanted
  • Disease Management
  • Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices
  • Atrial Fibrillation
  • 3201 Cardiovascular medicine and haematology
 

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Hess, P. L., Healey, J. S., Granger, C. B., Connolly, S. J., Ziegler, P. D., Alexander, J. H., … Lopes, R. D. (2017). The Role of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices in the Detection and Treatment of Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation: A Review. JAMA Cardiol, 2(3), 324–331. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2016.5167
Hess, Paul L., Jeff S. Healey, Christopher B. Granger, Stuart J. Connolly, Paul D. Ziegler, John H. Alexander, Peter R. Kowey, et al. “The Role of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices in the Detection and Treatment of Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation: A Review.JAMA Cardiol 2, no. 3 (March 1, 2017): 324–31. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2016.5167.
Hess PL, Healey JS, Granger CB, Connolly SJ, Ziegler PD, Alexander JH, et al. The Role of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices in the Detection and Treatment of Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation: A Review. JAMA Cardiol. 2017 Mar 1;2(3):324–31.
Hess, Paul L., et al. “The Role of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices in the Detection and Treatment of Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation: A Review.JAMA Cardiol, vol. 2, no. 3, Mar. 2017, pp. 324–31. Pubmed, doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2016.5167.
Hess PL, Healey JS, Granger CB, Connolly SJ, Ziegler PD, Alexander JH, Kowey PR, Ruff CT, Flaker G, Halperin JL, Hart RG, Lopes RD. The Role of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices in the Detection and Treatment of Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation: A Review. JAMA Cardiol. 2017 Mar 1;2(3):324–331.

Published In

JAMA Cardiol

DOI

EISSN

2380-6591

Publication Date

March 1, 2017

Volume

2

Issue

3

Start / End Page

324 / 331

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk Factors
  • Humans
  • Electrodes, Implanted
  • Disease Management
  • Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices
  • Atrial Fibrillation
  • 3201 Cardiovascular medicine and haematology