Incremental yield of ECG screening repeated annually over 4 years in an adult Japanese population without prior atrial fibrillation: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Repeated annual ECG screening of the same population provides a consistent yield of new AF each year. The majority of new AF (≥65 years) are eligible for anticoagulation for stroke prevention. Although AF prevalence and incidence are lower in Japan than Western countries, 2318 new cases would be identified in Toyama prefecture each year with annual screening, of whom ~927 would have a high stroke risk with a recommendation for OAC therapy.