Population screening for atrial fibrillation to prevent stroke

For almost a decade, European guidelines1 have recommended opportunistic, single-timepoint screening for atrial fibrillation to prevent stroke and other adverse outcomes. The rationale stems from evidence that approximately 10% of ischaemic strokes are related to atrial fibrillation first detected at the time of stroke.2,3 Another 20% occur in patients with known atrial fibrillation not taking oral anticoagulant treatment.3,4 The evidence is clear that for patients with atrial fibrillation at increased risk for ischaemic stroke, oral anticoagulant treatment reduces stroke by 64% and death by 26%.