Prevalence of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation and risk factors associated with asymptomatic status: a systematic review and meta-analysis - Summary - MDSpire
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Prevalence of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation and risk factors associated with asymptomatic status: a systematic review and meta-analysis
To estimate the prevalence of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) and identify associated risk factors to improve screening practices.
Key Findings:
Prevalence of asymptomatic AF was 27% (95% CI = 22%-33%).
Risk factors positively associated with asymptomatic AF include male sex (OR=1.67, 95% CI = 1.48-1.89), diabetes mellitus (OR=1.19, 95% CI = 1.07-1.33), chronic kidney disease (OR=1.21, 95% CI = 1.08-1.36), and stroke/transient ischemic attack (OR=1.43, 95% CI = 1.18-1.73).
Heart failure was negatively associated with asymptomatic AF (OR=0.71, 95% CI = 0.54-0.94).
Permanent AF was positively associated with asymptomatic status (OR=2.13, 95% CI = 1.28-3.55).
Catheter ablation (OR=0.63, 95% CI = 0.44-0.91), beta-blockers (OR=0.90, 95% CI = 0.82-0.98), and antiarrhythmics (OR=0.53, 95% CI = 0.35-0.79) were negatively associated with asymptomatic AF.
Interpretation:
Asymptomatic AF is prevalent and associated with specific risk factors, indicating the need for targeted screening practices to improve clinical outcomes.
Limitations:
High variability in prevalence estimates due to differing baseline risk factors across populations, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.
Potential biases in study selection and data extraction that could influence results.
Conclusion:
Approximately 27% of AF patients are asymptomatic, with distinct characteristics compared to symptomatic patients, highlighting the critical importance of screening for asymptomatic individuals.
