Current Practices of Cardiac Monitoring and Early Rhythm-Control Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke Prevention

We conducted an international survey of stroke physicians to assess practices and attitudes toward cardiac monitoring and early rhythm control. A 20-question survey was completed by 241 clinicians representing 61 countries. The minimum duration of actionable atrial fibrillation varied widely, and more than 90% (223/241) of respondents indicated a willingness to enroll patients in a trial assessing the ideal duration of cardiac monitoring. Only a quarter of respondents (62/241) offered early rhythm control for patients with atrial fibrillation, with the majority (209/241, 87%) expressing an opinion that there was equipoise about the benefit of rhythm control in the post-stroke population.