Abstract
The widespread adoption of medical practices without a firm evidence base is common and the current growing enthusiasm for atrial fibrillation screening offers a real-time example of this phenomenon. Although no randomized trials supporting the utility of screening for atrial fibrillation exist, proponents suggest that such screening should be considered. Atrial fibrillation is a common condition that is often asymptomatic. It is also a condition associated with serious morbidity, primarily resulting from stroke. We practice at a time in which the ability to detect atrial fibrillation is becoming easier and treatments are becoming less onerous. Screening for atrial fibrillation may be beneficial but there is also a reasonable likelihood that its harms will outweigh it benefits. In this article we make the case that adopting this practice prior to data from randomized controlled trial would be a mistake. If screening for atrial fibrillation is adopted without such a robust evidence base we may well later discover that this course of action was wrong.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1367-1368 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | Journal of general internal medicine |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 1 2016 |
Keywords
- anticoagulation
- atrial fibrillation
- medical decision making
- medical reversal
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Internal Medicine