3049Equally high detection rates of atrial fibrillation in patients after a TIA and stroke by systematic ECG monitoring with an implanted device: SPIDER-AF study

• Published in: European heart journal 2019-10, Vol.40 (Supplement_1)
• Main Authors: Goss, F, Rybak, K, Seige, M, Haerer, W, Schuetz, B, Mitusch, R, Mueller, M, Heinrich, U, Stoehring, R, Turschner, O, Knapp, A, Jauernig, M, Drexler, M, Bosch, R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0195-668X; 1522-9645
• DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz745.0016

Abstract Introduction The risk of neurovascular and cardiovascular morbidity is substantially increased by undetected atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, early detection of AF is crucial to initiate appropriate therapy in persons at risk and may improve outcome. An implantable loop recorder (ILR) can monitor the heart rhythm for up to three years, modern devices provide dedicated algorithms to detect AF. Hypothesis We aimed to investigate the AF detection rate by the use of an ILR in patients after a recent cerebrovascular event (TIA n=137 or stroke n=363) presenting in sinus rhythm and no history of AF in the ambulatory setting by office based cardiologists. Purpose Observational study in patients with no prior diagnosis of AF, who had (presumably thromboembolic) transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke within 12 months and were implanted an ILR in the last 6 months. Follow-up visits every 3 months for 1 year overall. Results In 34 outpatient cardiology centers in Germany, a total of 500 patients were documented (mean age 63.1±12.7 years, 35.4% >70 years; 60.8% males). The qualifying event - diagnosed by neurologists - was a TIA in 137 (27.4%) and a stroke in 363 (72.6%) with typical thromboembolic pattern in NMR imaging (29.2% TIA/45.2% stroke, p