Actively screening people aged 65 or over in the community improves the detection of atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm), a major risk factor for stroke, finds a study published on bmj.com today.The prevalence of atrial fibrillation rises with age, from about 1% in the whole population to about 5% in people aged over 65. It can be diagnosed using a simple low cost test (electrocardiography) and the risk of serious problems, such as stroke, can be dramatically reduced by treatment.
