Understanding the Burden of Atrial Fibrillation and Importance of Screening: A Global Perspective and Recommendations for Turkey

Considering the aging population, the increase in predisposing factors, and the improvement in healthcare with increased survival rates, atrial fibrillation has been the most common cardiac arrhythmia in adults with a rise in the estimated lifetime risk over recent years. While aging is a powerful risk factor for atrial fibrillation, the leading prevalent comorbidities are hypertension, heart failure, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. Atrial fibrillation is associated with substantial morbidity, impaired quality of life, and increased mortality and healthcare costs. As a significant proportion of the total atrial fibrillation population is asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, early identification and initiation of appropriate treatment for atrial fibrillation may prevent potentially detrimental outcomes such as stroke and heart failure and decrease all-cause mortality. Although screening via evolving health technologies has recently been emerging, verification of the electrocardiogram track recording over at least 30 seconds by a physician with expertise is still required for a definite diagnosis. Based on the global and national data and the current healthcare environment in Turkey, this targeted review with cardiology, neurology, and family physicians’ perspectives highlights the importance of early detection by implementing the advancing screening modalities as well as the need for raised awareness of both patients and healthcare professionals and establishment of a multidisciplinary clinical approach for a better outcome in atrial fibrillation management.