Publication

Documentation of atrial fibrillation among non-conveyed ambulance patients: a new primary prevention opportunity?

Heppenstall, Emily
; McClelland, GrahamOrcid icon; 
Price, Christopher
; 
Wilkinson, Chris
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Keyword
Emergency Medical Services
 Ambulance
 Stroke
 Atrial Fibrillation
 Primary Prevention
Journal Title
British Paramedic Journal
Book Title
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Publication Begin Page
Publication End Page
Publication Number of Pages
Collections
Publications - North East Ambulance Service
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URI
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12417/1402
DOI
10.29045/14784726.2022.06.7.1.51
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and is a significant risk factor for stroke. Prescription of oral anticoagulant (OAC) medication reduces the risk of AF-related stroke by 64% - yet over 400,000 people in England have undiagnosed (and therefore untreated) AF.Emergency medical services (EMS) encounter a wide range of patients, some of whom may not engage with other healthcare services. AF may be detected by EMS in connection with the cause of the call, or as an incidental finding. While EMS are not traditionally utilised for public health screening, they may offer an opportunity to identify patients with undiagnosed or untreated AF and refer onward.This study aimed to explore what proportion of patients seen by EMS who were not transported to hospital had AF and to estimate how many would potentially benefit from OAC. Abstract published with permission.
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