Subclinical and Asymptomatic Atrial Fibrillation: Current Evidence and Unsolved Questions in Clinical Practice
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) may be diagnosed due to symptoms, or it may be found as an incidental electrocardiogram (ECG) finding, or by implanted devices recordings in asymptomatic patients. While anticoagulation, according to individual risk profile, has proven definitely beneficial in terms of progn...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2019-08-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/55/8/497 |
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| author | Andrea Ballatore Mario Matta Andrea Saglietto Paolo Desalvo Pier Paolo Bocchino Fiorenzo Gaita Gaetano Maria De Ferrari Matteo Anselmino |
| author_facet | Andrea Ballatore Mario Matta Andrea Saglietto Paolo Desalvo Pier Paolo Bocchino Fiorenzo Gaita Gaetano Maria De Ferrari Matteo Anselmino |
| author_sort | Andrea Ballatore |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Atrial Fibrillation (AF) may be diagnosed due to symptoms, or it may be found as an incidental electrocardiogram (ECG) finding, or by implanted devices recordings in asymptomatic patients. While anticoagulation, according to individual risk profile, has proven definitely beneficial in terms of prognosis, rhythm control strategies only demonstrated consistent benefits in terms of quality of life. In fact, evidence collected by observational data showed significant benefits in terms of mortality, stroke incidence, and prevention of cognitive impairment for patients referred to AF catheter ablation compared to those medically treated, however randomized trials failed to confirm such results. The aims of this review are to summarize current evidence regarding the treatment specifically of subclinical and asymptomatic AF, to discuss potential benefits of rhythm control therapy, and to highlight unclear areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:19:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f2d69d7b92254dd1af9181541538625e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-660X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:19:16Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj.art-f2d69d7b92254dd1af9181541538625e2023-09-02T01:28:49ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X2019-08-0155849710.3390/medicina55080497medicina55080497Subclinical and Asymptomatic Atrial Fibrillation: Current Evidence and Unsolved Questions in Clinical PracticeAndrea Ballatore0Mario Matta1Andrea Saglietto2Paolo Desalvo3Pier Paolo Bocchino4Fiorenzo Gaita5Gaetano Maria De Ferrari6Matteo Anselmino7Division of Cardiology, “Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino” Hospital, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, ItalyDivision of Cardiology, Electrophysiology Lab, Sant’Andrea Hospital, 13100 Vercelli, ItalyDivision of Cardiology, “Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino” Hospital, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, ItalyDivision of Cardiology, “Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino” Hospital, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, ItalyDivision of Cardiology, “Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino” Hospital, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, ItalyCardiology Department, Clinica Pinna Pintor, 10129 Turin, ItalyDivision of Cardiology, “Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino” Hospital, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, ItalyDivision of Cardiology, “Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino” Hospital, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, ItalyAtrial Fibrillation (AF) may be diagnosed due to symptoms, or it may be found as an incidental electrocardiogram (ECG) finding, or by implanted devices recordings in asymptomatic patients. While anticoagulation, according to individual risk profile, has proven definitely beneficial in terms of prognosis, rhythm control strategies only demonstrated consistent benefits in terms of quality of life. In fact, evidence collected by observational data showed significant benefits in terms of mortality, stroke incidence, and prevention of cognitive impairment for patients referred to AF catheter ablation compared to those medically treated, however randomized trials failed to confirm such results. The aims of this review are to summarize current evidence regarding the treatment specifically of subclinical and asymptomatic AF, to discuss potential benefits of rhythm control therapy, and to highlight unclear areas.https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/55/8/497subclinical atrial fibrillationstrokeischemic cerebral eventscatheter ablationscreeningcognitive impairment |
| spellingShingle | Andrea Ballatore Mario Matta Andrea Saglietto Paolo Desalvo Pier Paolo Bocchino Fiorenzo Gaita Gaetano Maria De Ferrari Matteo Anselmino Subclinical and Asymptomatic Atrial Fibrillation: Current Evidence and Unsolved Questions in Clinical Practice Medicina subclinical atrial fibrillation stroke ischemic cerebral events catheter ablation screening cognitive impairment |
| title | Subclinical and Asymptomatic Atrial Fibrillation: Current Evidence and Unsolved Questions in Clinical Practice |
| title_full | Subclinical and Asymptomatic Atrial Fibrillation: Current Evidence and Unsolved Questions in Clinical Practice |
| title_fullStr | Subclinical and Asymptomatic Atrial Fibrillation: Current Evidence and Unsolved Questions in Clinical Practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Subclinical and Asymptomatic Atrial Fibrillation: Current Evidence and Unsolved Questions in Clinical Practice |
| title_short | Subclinical and Asymptomatic Atrial Fibrillation: Current Evidence and Unsolved Questions in Clinical Practice |
| title_sort | subclinical and asymptomatic atrial fibrillation current evidence and unsolved questions in clinical practice |
| topic | subclinical atrial fibrillation stroke ischemic cerebral events catheter ablation screening cognitive impairment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/55/8/497 |
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