| 1. |
- Aronsson, Mattias, et al.
(författare)
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Cost-effectiveness of mass screening for untreated atrial fibrillation using intermittent ECG recording
- 2015
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Ingår i: Europace. - : Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy B - Oxford Open Option B - CC-BY. - 1099-5129 .- 1532-2092. ; 17:7, s. 1023-1029
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims The aim of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of 2 weeks of intermittent screening for asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) in 75/76-year-old individuals. Methods and results The cost-effectiveness analysis of screening in 75-year-old individuals was based on a lifelong decision analytic Markov model. In this model, 1000 hypothetical individuals, who matched the population of the STROKESTOP study, were simulated. The population was analysed for different parameters such as prevalence, AF status, treatment with oral anticoagulation, stroke risk, utility, and costs. In the base-case scenario, screening of 1000 individuals resulted in 263 fewer patient-years with undetected AF. This implies eight fewer strokes, 11 more life-years, and 12 more quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) per 1000 screened individuals. The screening implies an incremental cost of (sic)50 012, resulting in a cost of (sic)4313 per gained QALY and (sic)6583 per avoided stroke. Conclusions With the use of a decision analytic simulation model, it has been shown that screening for asymptomatic AF in 75/76-year-old individuals is cost-effective.
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| 2. |
- Aronsson, Mattias, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
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Designing an optimal screening program for unknown atrial fibrillation : a cost-effectiveness analysis.
- 2017
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Ingår i: Europace. - Oxford : Oxford University Press. - 1099-5129 .- 1532-2092. ; 19:10, s. 1650-1656
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims: The primary objective of this study was to use computer simulations to suggest an optimal age for initiation of screening for unknown atrial fibrillation and to evaluate if repeated screening will add value.Methods and results: In the absence of relevant clinical studies, this analysis was based on a simulation model. More than two billion different designs of screening programs for unknown atrial fibrillation were simulated and analysed. Data from the published scientific literature and registries were used to construct the model and estimate lifelong effects and costs. Costs and effects generated by 2 147 483 648 different screening designs were calculated and compared. Program designs that implied worse clinical outcome and were less cost-effective compared to other programs were excluded from the analysis. Seven program designs were identified, and considered to be cost effective depending on what the health-care decision makers are ready to pay for gaining a quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). Screening at the age of 75 implied the lowest cost per gained QALY (€4 800/QALY).Conclusion: In conclusion, examining the results of more than two billion simulated screening program designs for unknown atrial fibrillation, seven designs were deemed cost-effective depending on how much we are prepared to pay for gaining QALYs. Our results showed that repeated screening for atrial fibrillation implied additional health benefits to a reasonable cost compared to one-off screening.
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| 3. |
- Edvardsson, Nils, 1942, et al.
(författare)
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Use of an implantable loop recorder to increase the diagnostic yield in unexplained syncope: results from the PICTURE registry.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Europace. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1532-2092 .- 1099-5129. ; 13:2, s. 262-269
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims To collect information on the use of the Reveal implantable loop recorder (ILR) in the patient care pathway and to investigate its effectiveness in the diagnosis of unexplained recurrent syncope in everyday clinical practice. Methods and results Prospective, multicentre, observational study conducted in 2006-2009 in 10 European countries and Israel. Eligible patients had recurrent unexplained syncope or pre-syncope. Subjects received a Reveal Plus, DX or XT. Follow up was until the first recurrence of a syncopal event leading to a diagnosis or for ≥1 year. In the course of the study, patients were evaluated by an average of three different specialists for management of their syncope and underwent a median of 13 tests (range 9-20). Significant physical trauma had been experienced in association with a syncopal episode by 36% of patients. Average follow-up time after ILR implant was 10 ± 6 months. Follow-up visit data were available for 570 subjects. The percentages of patients with recurrence of syncope were 19, 26, and 36% after 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Of 218 events within the study, ILR-guided diagnosis was obtained in 170 cases (78%), of which 128 (75%) were cardiac. Conclusion A large number of diagnostic tests were undertaken in patients with unexplained syncope without providing conclusive data. In contrast, the ILR revealed or contributed to establishing the mechanism of syncope in the vast majority of patients. The findings support the recommendation in current guidelines that an ILR should be implanted early rather than late in the evaluation of unexplained syncope.
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| 4. |
- Engdahl, Johan, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Geographic and socio-demographic differences in uptake of population-based screening for atrial fibrillation: The STROKESTOP I study
- 2016
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 222, s. 430-435
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The rationale behind screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) is to prevent ischemic stroke. Socio-demographic differences are expected to affect screening uptake. Geographic differences may provide further insights leading to targeted interventions for improved uptake. The objective of this study was to evaluate geographic and socio-demographic differences in uptake of AF screening in the population-based study STROKESTOP I. METHODS: STROKESTOP was carried out in two Swedish counties with a total population of 2.3 million inhabitants. Half of the residents aged 75-76years were randomized to the screening arm: invitation to clinical examination followed by ambulant ECG recording. Information on each invited person's residential parish (n=157) was used. On parish-level, aggregated data for the participants and non-participants, respectively, were obtained with respect to socioeconomic variables: educational level, disposable income, immigrant and marital status. Geo-maps displaying participation ratios were estimated by hierarchical Bayes methods. RESULTS: The overall participation rate was similar in men and women but lower in Stockholm, 47.6% (5665/11,903) than in Halland, 61.2% (1495/2443). Participation was clearly associated with the socioeconomic variables. Participation not taking into account socioeconomy varied more markedly across the parishes in the Stockholm county (range: 0.65-1.26) than in the Halland county (0.94-1.27). After adjustment for socioeconomic variables, a geographic variation remained in Stockholm, but not in Halland. CONCLUSION: Participation in AF screening varied according to socioeconomic conditions. Geographic variation in participation was marked in the Stockholm county, with only one screening clinic. Geo-mapping of participation yielded useful information needed to intervene for improved screening uptake.
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| 5. |
- Friberg, Leif, et al.
(författare)
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Population screening of 75- and 76-year-old men and women for silent atrial fibrillation (STROKESTOP)
- 2013
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Ingår i: Europace. - : Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy B. - 1099-5129 .- 1532-2092. ; 15:1, s. 135-140
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) is important because it is common and is a major cause of stroke unless treated with oral anticoagulant. The prevalence of AF increases with age as does the risk of stroke. At 75 years the risk from age alone is so high that current guidelines recommend anticoagulation even in the absence of other risk factors. Atrial fibrillation is often asymptomatic and only discovered by chance or when a stroke already has occurred. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanWe have launched a major screening study for silent AF in which 25 000 Swedes aged 75 and 76 years are randomized to either participate in a screening programme using ambulant intermittent electrocardiogram (ECG) recording to detect silent AF, or act as a control group. Patients in whom AF is detected are offered cardiological examination and anticoagulant treatment according to current guidelines. The cohort and the controls will be followed prospectively for 5 years after the inclusion of the first participant. An interim analysis will be made after 3 years. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanOur hypothesis is that screening for AF will reduce stroke incidence in the screened population, and that this screening will prove to be cost effective. Secondary endpoints are: any thromboembolic event, intracranial bleeding, other major bleeding, first ever diagnosis of dementia, death from any cause, and a composite of these endpoints.
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| 6. |
- Frykman, Viveka
(författare)
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Atrial fibrillation : clinical managements with special emphasis on cardioversion
- 2002
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia of clinical importance. It often decreases quality of life and is related to significant morbidity, as well as decreases longevity. This thesis covers three main issues of importance in the management of patients with AF: · Knowledge of and adherence to published guidelines; · Symptomatology of paroxysmal and persistent AF; · Aspects of electrical cardioversion of AF. Knowledge of and proneness to adhere to Swedish guidelines were studied by asking 728 physicians to respond to a questionnaire focusing on relevant issues when handling patients with AF. In parallel, 200 records from patients hospitalized for AF were reviewed to verify actual compliance to the guidelines. Only 40% of the patients with persistent AF and risk factors for stroke, received warfarin, although they did not have any contraindication to such treatment. Several discrepancies were detected, regarding the prescription of antiarrhythmic therapy. In conclusion, there was a lack of compliance between management as recommended by the guidelines and actual practice concerning several important aspects, some of which exposed patients to unnecessary risk. A structured medical history, two-dimensional echocardiography and 24-h Holter-ECG were obtained from 282 consecutive patients with persistent AF in order to investigate the differences between patients with and without symptoms and the prevalence of left ventricular dysfunction. Apart from the presence of valvular heart disease, symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects did not differ. Approximately 20% in this group had an impaired left ventricular function, this was more prevalent among those with high ventricular rate, ischemic heart disease and male gender. Episodes of paroxysmal AF are often asymptomatic. It is not known whether such episodes differ from symptomatic episodes. In a group of twenty-one patients with an implanted atrial def ibrillator, symptomatic episodes that caused the patient to attend hospital for cardioversion were compared with episodes that did not lead the patient to a hospital visit. Episodes ending with cardioversion were characterized by a high initial ventricular rate and longer duration than those that were unnoted. To test the hypotheses that one high-energy shock is more efficacious than incremental shocks, 120 consecutive patients referred for a first elective cardioversion were randomized to one shock of 360 J or incremental shocks starting at 100 J with a stepwise increase to 360 J. There were no differences in efficacy, sinus rhythm being obtained in 87 and 91 % in the two groups respectively. One single shock of 360 J caused less chest discomfort than the strategy based on incremental energy shocks. Neither of the two groups revealed any signs of myocardial injury. There are theoretical reasons to believe that rapid atrial pacing prior to the delivery of a cardioversion shock may lower the atrial defibrillation threshold (ADFT). This hypothesis was tested in 11 patients by pre-shock atrial pacing during internal cardioversion of AF. The ADFT was recorded in a randomized design, applying a step-up protocol starting at 100 V At each energy level the shock preceded by pacing was compared to a shock given without pacing until a level when sinus rhythm was restored by either of the two modes. Subsequently the step-up protocol was repeated applying the inverse sequence of the modes. The hypothesis could not be confirmed since rapid atrial pacing, did not influence the internal ADFT, at least not according to the protocol used. In conclusion, AF is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. Through careful patient management the risks can be minimized and the need for medical care reduced. The described studies increase the understanding of the symptomatology and electrophysiological mechanisms and may hopefully contribute to improve patient care in this large group of people.
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| 7. |
- Giesecke, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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All-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk after surgery versus radioiodine treatment for hyperthyroidism
- 2018
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Ingår i: British Journal of Surgery. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0007-1323 .- 1365-2168. ; 105:3, s. 279-286
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Little is known about the long-term side-effects of different treatments for hyperthyroidism. The few studies previously published on the subject either included only women or focused mainly on cancer outcomes. This register study compared the impact of surgery versus radioiodine on all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a cohort of men and women.METHODS: Healthcare registers were used to find hyperthyroid patients over 35 years of age who were treated with radioiodine or surgery between 1976 and 2000. Comparisons between treatments were made to assess all-cause and cause-specific deaths to 2013. Three different statistical methods were applied: Cox regression, propensity score matching and inverse probability weighting.RESULTS: Of the 10 992 patients included, 10 250 had been treated with radioiodine (mean age 65·1 years; 8668 women, 84·6 per cent) and 742 had been treated surgically (mean age 44·1 years; 633 women, 85·3 per cent). Mean duration of follow-up varied between 16·3 and 22·3 years, depending on the statistical method used. All-cause mortality was significantly lower among surgically treated patients, with a hazard ratio of 0·82 in the regression analysis, 0·80 in propensity score matching and 0·85 in inverse probability weighting. This was due mainly to lower cardiovascular mortality in the surgical group. Men in particular seemed to benefit from surgery compared with radioiodine treatment.CONCLUSION: Compared with treatment with radioiodine, surgery for hyperthyroidism is associated with a lower risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the long term. This finding was more evident among men.
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| 8. |
- Giesecke, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Increased Cardiovascular Mortality and Morbidity in Patients Treated for Toxic Nodular Goiter Compared to Graves' Disease and Nontoxic Goiter
- 2017
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Ingår i: Thyroid. - : Mary Ann Liebert. - 1050-7256 .- 1557-9077. ; 27:7, s. 878-885
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Previous research has suggested an increased risk of death and cardiovascular disease in patients treated for hyperthyroidism. However, studies on this subject are heterogeneous, often based on old data, or have not considered the impact that treatment for hyperthyroidism might have on cardiovascular risk. It is also unclear whether long-term prognosis differs between Graves' disease and toxic nodular goiter. The aim of this study was to use a very large cohort built on recent data to assess whether improvements in cardiovascular care might have changed the prognosis over time. The study also investigated the impact of different etiologies of hyperthyroidism.METHODS: This was an observational register study for the period 1976-2012, with subjects followed for a median period of 18.4 years. Study patients were Stockholm residents treated for Graves' disease or toxic nodular goiter with either radioactive iodine or surgery (N = 12,239). This group was compared to Stockholm residents treated for nontoxic goiter (N = 3685), with adjustments made for age, sex, comorbidities, and time of treatment. Comparisons were also made to the general population of Stockholm. Outcomes were assessed in terms of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality as well as cardiovascular morbidity.RESULTS: The hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause mortality and for cardiovascular mortality were 1.27 [confidence interval (CI) 1.20-1.35] and 1.29 [CI 1.17-1.42], respectively, for hyperthyroid patients compared to those with nontoxic goiter. For cardiovascular morbidity, the HR was 1.12 [CI 1.06-1.18]. Patients aged ≥45 years who were treated for toxic nodular goiter were generally at greater risk than others, and those included from the year 1990 and onwards were at greater risk than those included earlier. Increased all-cause mortality, as well as cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, were also seen in comparisons with the general population.CONCLUSIONS: This is the first large study to indicate that the long-term risk of death and cardiovascular disease in hyperthyroid subjects is due to the hyperthyroidism itself and not an effect of confounding introduced by its treatment. Much of the excess risk is confined to individuals treated for toxic nodular goiter. Despite advances in cardiovascular care during recent decades, hyperthyroidism is still a diagnosis associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
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| 9. |
- Gudmundsdottir, Katrin Kemp, et al.
(författare)
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Stepwise mass screening for atrial fibrillation using N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide : the STROKESTOP II study
- 2020
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Ingår i: Europace. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS. - 1099-5129 .- 1532-2092. ; 22:1, s. 24-32
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims: To study the prevalence of unknown atrial fibrillation (AF) in a high-risk, 75/76-year-old, population using N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and handheld electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings in a stepwise screening procedure.Methods and results: The STROKESTOP II study is a population-based cohort study in which all 75/76-year-old in the Stockholm region (n = 28 712) were randomized 1:1 to be invited to an AF screening programme or to serve as the control group. Participants without known AF had NT-proBNP analysed and were stratified into low-risk (NT-proBNP <125 ng/L) and high-risk (NT-proBNP >= 125 ng/L) groups. The high-risk group was offered extended ECG-screening, whereas the low-risk group performed only one single-lead ECG recording. In total, 6868 individuals accepted the screening invitation of which 6315 (91.9%) did not have previously known AF. New AF was detected in 2.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.2-3.0] of all participants without previous AF. In the high-risk group (n = 3766/6315, 59.6%), AF was diagnosed in 4.4% (95% CI 3.7-5.1) of the participants. Out of these, 18% had AF on their index-ECG. In the low-risk group, one participant was diagnosed with AF on index-ECG. The screening procedure resulted in an increase in known prevalence from 8.1% to 10.5% among participants. Oral anticoagulant treatment was initiated in 94.5% of the participants with newly diagnosed AF.Conclusion: N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide-stratified systematic screening for AF identified 4.4% of the high-risk participants with new AF. Oral anticoagulant treatment initiation was well accepted in the group diagnosed with new AF.
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| 10. |
- Levin, Lars-Åke, et al.
(författare)
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A cost-effectiveness analysis of screening for silent atrial fibrillation after ischaemic stroke.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Europace. - : Oxford University Press. - 1099-5129 .- 1532-2092. ; 17:2, s. 207-14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS: The purpose of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of two screening methods for detection of silent AF, intermittent electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings using a handheld recording device, at regular time intervals for 30 days, and short-term 24 h continuous Holter ECG, in comparison with a no-screening alternative in 75-year-old patients with a recent ischaemic stroke.METHODS AND RESULTS: The long-term (20-year) costs and effects of all alternatives were estimated with a decision analytic model combining the result of a clinical study and epidemiological data from Sweden. The structure of a cost-effectiveness analysis was used in this study. The short-term decision tree model analysed the screening procedure until the onset of anticoagulant treatment. The second part of the decision model followed a Markov design, simulating the patients' health states for 20 years. Continuous 24 h ECG recording was inferior to intermittent ECG in terms of cost-effectiveness, due to both lower sensitivity and higher costs. The base-case analysis compared intermittent ECG screening with no screening of patients with recent stroke. The implementation of the screening programme on 1000 patients resulted over a 20-year period in 11 avoided strokes and the gain of 29 life-years, or 23 quality-adjusted life years, and cost savings of €55 400.CONCLUSION: Screening of silent AF by intermittent ECG recordings in patients with a recent ischaemic stroke is a cost-effective use of health care resources saving costs and lives and improving the quality of life.
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