SCREENING AFTER STROKE - ATRIAL FIBRILLATION - the SIGNIFICANCE of TIMING and CHOICE of DEVICE
As much as 20-30% of all strokes are attributed to atrial fibrillation (AF), making the detection of AF highly important, as AF-related strokes are largely preventable with optimal treatment. Therefore, most guidelines recommend screening patients for AF after a stroke, although the optimal timing and choice of monitoring device for screening remain undefined. Our aim is to investigate whether AF screening as early as possible after stroke symptom onset provides a higher detection rate compared to screening after discharge. Additionally, we aim to determine if a 3-lead ECG device provides a higher detection rate compared to a 1-lead patch recorder.
• 18 years or older
• Ischemic stroke
• Without known AF or those with previously diagnosed paroxysmal AF exhibiting sinus rhythm upon admission