P1011Cryptogenic stoke and asymptomatic atrial fibrillation in a real world population: a single centre, implantable loop recorder study

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements None Background The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in cryptogenic stroke (CS) patients has been studied in carefully controlled clinical trials, but real-world data are limited. Purpose Aim of this study was to investigated the incidence of AF in clinical practice among CS patients with an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM) recommended (IIA) for AF detection. Methods Patients with CS admitted to our Stroke Unit were included in the study. Patiens received an ICM and were monitored for up to 2 years for AF detection (in-hospital clinic and remote monitoring). All detected AF episodes (≥30 sec) were considered. Results From March 2016 to March 2019, 58 patients (mean age 68 ±12 years, 67% male) received an ICM to detect AF after a CS. No patients were lost during follow-up. AF was detected in 23 patients (40% overall; AF group mean age 72 ± 11 years; 65% male) after a mean time of 6 months from ICM implantation (ranging from 2 days up to 2 years) and 8 months after CS (ranging from 1 month up to 2 years). In these AF patients anticoagulant treatment was prescribed, and no further stroke was reported. Conclusions AF episodes were detected via continuous monitoring with ICMs in 40% of implanted CS patients. AF after CS was asymptomatic and thus unlikely to be detected by strategies based on intermittent short-term recordings. Therefore, ICMs should be considered as part of daily practice in the evaluation of CS patients. Abstract Figure 1. Detection rate over time