AF Screening in Patients With Abnormal Echocardiographic Parameters

Inclusion criteria

patients who met any of the following criteria

• LAE: defined as LAD ≥ 45 mm or LAVI > 34 ml/m2;
• LVH: defined as LV septal or posterior wall thickness ≥ 15 mm;
• E/e' > 14;
• grade II or III diastolic dysfunction;
• VHD;
• HF: defined as LVEF < 40% or LVEF ≥40% with clinical presentation compatible with Framingham criteria, New York Heart Association functional classification II-IV, and N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) > 125 pg/ml.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with a history of AF or atrial flutter, congenital heart disease, acute coronary syndrome undergoing urgent percutaneous coronary intervention within 3 months, uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, end-stage renal disease, unstable hemodynamic status or any known major comorbidities or medical conditions with expected life expectancy less than 1 year are excluded.