Identifying Undiagnosed Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation in the Age of Telehealth: Novel Screening Technologies and Stroke Prevention Strategies

Target Audience
This activity has been designed to address the educational needs of cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, primary care providers, allied healthcare professionals (ie, nurse practitioners, PAs, and pharmacists), and other clinicians involved in the care of patients with cardiovascular disease.

Program Overview
Undetected atrial fibrillation (AF) can lead to a host of related negative sequelae (eg, stroke, heart failure, and sudden death) that are often preventable with appropriate treatment. A variety of novel digital tools have emerged that may be useful in identifying undiagnosed AF noninvasively and remotely—a boon in the era of COVID-19—but their role is unclear. This educational activity will review data on digital tools that can help overcome barriers to AF care and strategies to prevent stroke once AF is detected, including risk assessment and shared decision-making to determine whether (and, if so, what type of) oral anticoagulation is needed. This education is expected to enable identification and management of this serious condition promptly, consistently, and in accordance with the latest evidence.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

Recognize the high clinical impact of AF, including the risk of stroke
Implement evidence-based in-office and telehealth strategies for identification of undiagnosed AF
Individualize oral anticoagulation decisions regarding stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular AF (NVAF) based on guideline-recommended risk assessment, patient characteristics, and current evidence