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Atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs in about 5% of people older than 65. Detection and treatment with warfarin can lead to relative risk reductions of 68% for ischemic stroke and 25% for mortality. As part of the Screening for Atrial Fibrillation in the Elderly (SAFE) study, researchers analyzed data for 14,802 patients (65 or older) in 25 intervention and 25 control practices during a 12-month period. Patients in intervention practices were randomized to either systematic AF screening by electrocardiography or opportunistic screening in which ECGs were performed only if the pulse was irregular on physical examination.
New-onset AF was detected in 1.63% of patients in intervention practices versus 1.04% of those in control practices. Detection r…