Over 65s should be screened for atrial fibrillation

Healthcare-Today: 6TH MARCH 2012.

A meeting of 120 stroke specialists has concluded that GPs should offer routine screenings to people aged over 65 in order to identify atrial fibrillation.

The meeting, which was organised by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) last week, said routine screening could reduce deaths caused by strokes.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) causes those who have the condition to have five times the risk of suffering a stroke and the danger of developing AF rises as a person gets older.

An estimate has suggested that 2,000 deaths and 5,000 strokes could be prevented if treatment and diagnosis of AF was improved.

Dr Scott Ramsay, of the RCPE said: “Atrial fibrillation is often a silent condition with serious consequences in the form of stroke. Its symptoms can go undetected, there has been uncertainty amongst doctors regarding how to treat it effectively and a lack of medical and public awareness about sufferers’ significantly increased risk of developing a stroke.” Read More