Top in cardiology: Undiagnosed atrial fibrillation; Apple Watch feature for AF screening
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New data suggest that 1.5 million cases of atrial fibrillation may be undiagnosed in the United States.
Undiagnosed patients are more likely to be women, to be older and to have more comorbidities, according to Mintu P. Turakhia, MD, MAS, an associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine, and colleagues. It was the top story in cardiology last week.
Another top story was about an Apple Watch feature that detected atrial fibrillation (AF) with a low false-positive rate and high specificity. However, Rod S. Passman, MD, MSCE, the Jules J. Reingold Professor of Electrophysiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and director of the Northwestern University Center for Arrhythmia Research, and colleagues found that its sensitivity for detection by participant and by AF episode was lower.
Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:
1.5 million atrial fibrillation cases may be undiagnosed in US
An analysis of five U.S. medical claims databases suggests as many as 23% of 5.6 million to 6.6 million presumptive AF cases are undiagnosed, with many undiagnosed patients likely eligible for oral anticoagulant treatment. Read more.
Data suggest Apple Watch appropriate for AF screening, but not disease management
An Apple Watch feature designed to detect AF was associated with a low rate of false-positive detections but only modest sensitivity for detections in people with a history of AF, researchers reported. Read more.
Heart roundness may be early marker of atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy
Healthy adults with spherical hearts, identified through a deep learning analysis of cardiac MRI images, were 31% more likely to develop atrial fibrillation and 24% more likely to develop cardiomyopathy, researchers reported. Read more.
Mediterranean, low-fat diets may reduce death, heart attack in adults at elevated risk
In patients at intermediate or high cardiovascular risk, compared with minimal intervention, the Mediterranean and low-fat dietary programs were associated with reduced risk for death and nonfatal MI, researchers reported in The BMJ. Read more.
Treating mild to moderate hypertension safe during pregnancy
Pharmacological treatment of mild hypertension during pregnancy is associated with lower risks for several adverse outcomes, including severe hypertension, preeclampsia, placental abruption, renal impairment and pulmonary edema, data show. Read more.