Apurv Soni1, Sunil Karna2, Nisha Fahey3, Saket Sanghai4, Harshil Patel5, Shyamsundar Raithatha6, Sunil Thanvi2, Somashekhar Nimbalkar5, Ben Freedman7, Jeroan Allison8, David D McManus9. 1. Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. Electronic address: Apurv.soni@umassmed.edu. 2. Cardiovascular Center, Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Gujarat, India. 3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. 4. Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. 5. Central Research Services, Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Gujarat, India. 6. Department of Extensions Programme, Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Gujarat, India. 7. Heart Research Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney and Concord Hospital, Dept of Cardiology, Australia. 8. Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. 9. Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA; Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Early detection of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a public health priority across the globe because AF-related strokes are preventable. Despite an ongoing stroke epidemic in India, a public health strategy for AF screening and treatment is missing because the epidemiology of AF in India remains poorly defined. METHODS: This population-based study used mobile technology to derive age and sex-stratified AF prevalence by screening 7 participants in each of six age and sex strata (age 40-55, 56-65, 65+, and male and female) from 50 villages (2100 participants). A health worker from each village used a handheld digital electrocardiogram (iECG) device (Kardia) to screen for AF on 3 separate days, and administered a questionnaire. All abnormal (AF or unclassified) iECGs were reviewed by the Indian cardiologist and AF determination confirmed by a US-based cardiac electrophysiologist. RESULTS: Of the 2100 individuals enrolled, iECGs were collected from 2074 participants (98.8%) and 1947 (92.7%) participants responded to the questionnaire. AF was identified in 33 participants (1.6%), two-thirds on the first iECG. AF prevalence was higher among males (2.3% vs 1.0%, p = 0.03) and in older people (0.6%, 0.9%, 2.1%, 5.6%; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of AF observed in our population-based sample is comparable to rates found in studies from North America and Western Europe and increases similarly with age. AF screening using village health workers in rural India is feasible and presents an opportunity for a strategy to address the stroke epidemic in India through primary prevention.
BACKGROUND: Early detection of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a public health priority across the globe because AF-related strokes are preventable. Despite an ongoing stroke epidemic in India, a public health strategy for AF screening and treatment is missing because the epidemiology of AF in India remains poorly defined. METHODS: This population-based study used mobile technology to derive age and sex-stratified AF prevalence by screening 7 participants in each of six age and sex strata (age 40-55, 56-65, 65+, and male and female) from 50 villages (2100 participants). A health worker from each village used a handheld digital electrocardiogram (iECG) device (Kardia) to screen for AF on 3 separate days, and administered a questionnaire. All abnormal (AF or unclassified) iECGs were reviewed by the Indian cardiologist and AF determination confirmed by a US-based cardiac electrophysiologist. RESULTS: Of the 2100 individuals enrolled, iECGs were collected from 2074 participants (98.8%) and 1947 (92.7%) participants responded to the questionnaire. AF was identified in 33 participants (1.6%), two-thirds on the first iECG. AF prevalence was higher among males (2.3% vs 1.0%, p = 0.03) and in older people (0.6%, 0.9%, 2.1%, 5.6%; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of AF observed in our population-based sample is comparable to rates found in studies from North America and Western Europe and increases similarly with age. AF screening using village health workers in rural India is feasible and presents an opportunity for a strategy to address the stroke epidemic in India through primary prevention.
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