Prevalence of atrial fibrillation in rural areas according to the centralized analysis bank of remotely transmitted ECG
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia causing thromboembolic complications. The prevalence of AF is growing with age and approximates 2 % in general population. Systematic ECG-monitoring reveals AF in one of twelve patients with stroke. The purpose of current research was to identify the prevalence of AF and risk factors for brain complications in rural population by means of ECG-12-telemetry (T-ECG) at prophylactic medical examination. For stroke risk assessment CHA2DS2-VASc scale was used. With implication of T-ECG AF was diagnosed in 1.7 % of the examined population, in 5 % of these primarily. Risk factor analysis CHA2DS2-VASc displayed high risk of stroke in 38 patients (79.1 %), which was indication for anticoagulation therapy. 15 % of the patients met the criteria of intermediate risk. Medication treatment analysis showed deviation from treatment standards. New oral anticoagulants were not prescribed. Timely T-ECG-based diagnostic of heart rate disturabances improves AF and thromboembolic risk factors detection.