Advancement in screening for asymptomatic atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, which significantly increases the risk of stroke and heart failure. A significant proportion of patients with AF have no specific symptoms, whose first presentation is stroke or heart failure. Screening for asymptomatic AF is critical for early diagnosis, early treatment and prognosis improvement. At present, quantities of screening approaches are available, such as pulsation, handhold electrocardiogram machines, wearable devices and cardiac implantable electronic devices. Each of these methods has its own features and certain limitations. Proper use of these technologies to screen high-risk subjects for AF can improve the efficiency and lower the cost.