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What is atrial fibrillation “silent” about: methods, frequency and clinical implications of its detection in asymp- tomatic patients

Authors: Serguladze S.Yu., Tetvadze I.V., Pronicheva I.V.

Company: Bakoulev National Medical Research Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Moscow, Russian Federation

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Type:  Reviews


DOI: https://doi.org/10.24022/1997-3187-2021-15-3-307-321

For citation: Serguladze S.Yu., Tetvadze I.V., Pronicheva I.V. What is atrial fibrillation “silent” about: methods, frequency and clinical implications of its detection in asymptomatic patients. Creative Cardiology. 2021; 15 (3): 307–21 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.24022/1997-3187-2021-15-3-307-321

Received / Accepted:  31.03.2021 / 30.08.2021

Keywords: “silent” atrial fibrillation atrial fibrillation burden diagnosis clinical consequences thromboembolic complications

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Abstract

“Silent” atrial fibrillation is an asymptomatic atrial arrhythmia that can be diagnosed incidentally by recording an electrocardiogram, external Holter, or by implanted cardiac devices. There is a substantial body of literature on “silent” atrial fibrillation, but it remains largely undiagnosed in routine clinical practice. Meanwhile, new diagnostic tools have significantly improved the detection of this subclinical asymptomatic arrhythmia, creating the potential for mass screening with new technologies and promising an important step forward in e-health. However, it is still unknown whether “silent” atrial fibrillation is associated with the same risk of thromboembolism as symptomatic, and whether these asymptomatic and often brief episodes therefore require anticoagulant therapy and rate control. The purpose of this review is to highlight the problem of detecting “silent” atrial fibrillation in a population, its clinical significance and the advisability of anticoagulation in these conditions.

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About Authors

  • Sergey Yu. Serguladze, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Chief of Department, Cardiac Surgeon; ORCID
  • Inga V. Tetvadze, Cand. Med. Sci., Senior Researcher, Chief Physician of V.I. Bourakovsky Institute of Cardiac Surgery; ORCID
  • Irina V. Pronicheva, Cand. Med. Sci., Senior Researcher, Cardiologist; ORCID

Chief Editor

Leo A. Bockeria, MD, PhD, DSc, Professor, Academician of Russian Academy of Sciences, President of Bakoulev National Medical Research Center for Cardiovascular Surgery


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