Hakop Hrachian Author

Review Article Open Access

Does Oral Anticoagulation Therapy Reduce Thromboembolic Events or Mortality In Patients with Device-detected Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation? A Review

Author(s):

Garly R. Saint Croix, Lourdes Chacon, Dhanya Baskaran3 and Hakop Hrachian

Atrial fibrillation is the most prevalent arrhythmia occurring in 1.5- 2% of the general population, and accounting for approximately 30% of all strokes. In 20-45% of atrial fibrillation-related strokes, the arrhythmia is not documented and the patient is asymptomatic from a cardiovascular standpoint, prior to the stroke. Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation (SCAF) is defined as asymptomatic or clinically silent atrial fibrillation. Patients with SCAF exhibit no symptoms during the episode of atrial fibrillation. SCAF is frequently detected by continuous electrocardiographic monitoring in patients without history of atrial fibrillation. Several studies have shown that atrial tachyarrhythmias incidentally detected by implantable cardiac devices such as Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD) ... view more»

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