Abstract
Population-based screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) in Thailand
Patsri Srisuwan*, Tanunya Koopitakkajorn**, Pritaporn Kingkaew**, Sitaporn Youngkong**,
Sripen Tantivess*, and Yot Teerawattananon*
*Outpatient and Family Medicine Department, Phramongkutklao Hospital, **Health Intervention and Technology
Assessment Program, Ministry of Public Health
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia that can cause serious complications.
Guidelines for population-based screening of atrial fibrillation in Thailand have not been reviewed,
nor have the benefits and cost-effectiveness been analyzed. This article aims to conduct a systematic review
and panel discussion on the population-based screening for atrial fibrillation in Thailand. Clinical
practice guidelines recommended checking pulses for 65 years or older. The sensitivity of pulse checking
for at least 20 seconds was 95 (95% CI, 84-97), and the specificity was 72 (95% CI, 69-75). There is no
sufficient data for other methods on a population level. Opportunistic screening is recommended since
the detection rates were similar to that of systematic screening (1.62% and 1.64% for opportunistic and
systematic screening, respectively.) Pulse checking was also found to be cost-effective.
