Pharmacy AF screening
April 4, 2014
Researchers at the University
of Sydney have published their
evaluation of a new screening test
for atrial fibrillation (AF) which
delivers an ECG (pictured) using
an iPhone with an attachment and
managed by pharmacists.
The test was found to be quick
at 30 seconds and accurate at
diagnosing unknown AF.
Given that AF predisposes for
a third of all strokes, screening
Australians aged between 65 and
84, researchers predict that the test
could prevent 1228 strokes over 10
years, or 122 strokes each year.
The study, published in
Thrombosis and Haemostasis, is
based on 1000 people aged 65 and
over, screened in pharmacies.
The app identified AF in 1.5%
of participants, it said, which was
predicted from a previous review of
all screening studies.
The review found a total
incidence of unknown AF of 1.4 per
cent in those over 65.
Paper senior author Professor
Ben Freedman said if the screening
were extended to the general
community, the incremental
cost-effectiveness ratio would be
$5,988 per Quality Adjusted Life
Year (QALY) gained and $30,481 for
prevention of one stroke.
A spokesman for the Pharmacy
Guild of Australia said, “We
welcome the researchers’
prediction that there will be an
increased recognition of the role
health providers like pharmacists
can play in screening for serious
conditions.”
National president of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
Grant Kardachi said the app was a
good example of how technology
and the pharmacy profession
could combine to improve health
outcomes for the community.
“Pharmacies are the most
accessible health professionals
and as more and more pharmacies
turn to a model of providing a wide
range of professional services,
services such as this one will
assume greater prominence and
importance.”
He said the app was an example
of Australian health technology at
the forefront of international best
practice.
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