Contact: Olivia Walther, owalther@acc.org,

WASHINGTON (Dec 18, 2024) -

The American College of Cardiology has issued an Expert Consensus Decision Pathway (ECDP) on practical approaches for arrhythmia monitoring after stroke. This guidance offers clinicians tailored strategies to improve post-stroke care by identifying and managing atrial fibrillation (AF) and other arrhythmias linked to recurrent stroke risk.

Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide, and identifying its underlying cause is critical to preventing recurrent events. AF, a common but often silent arrhythmia, significantly increases stroke risk. The ECDP emphasizes personalized approaches to arrhythmia monitoring, utilizing advanced technologies such as medical-grade and consumer-grade cardiac monitors, and integrating multidisciplinary expertise to optimize patient outcomes.

“There is growing consensus on the role of cardiac rhythm monitoring in patients after a stroke that is informed by outcomes of several recent landmark trials,” said Michael T. Spooner, MD, MBA, FACC, writing committee chair and Director of Electrophysiology and Program Director of the Mercy One North Iowa Cardiovascular Fellowship. “Although improved monitoring leads to improved detection of arrhythmia after a stroke, there remains less clarity on the effect this detection has on secondary stroke prevention.”

The ECDP includes comprehensive guidance for arrhythmia detection based on stroke subtype, leveraging extended and implantable cardiac monitors where appropriate; detailed evaluation of medical- and consumer-grade monitoring devices to support clinicians in selecting the right tools for individual patients; emphasis on collaboration between clinicians and patients to personalize monitoring strategies and treatment plans.

The 2024 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on Practical Approaches for Arrhythmia Monitoring After Stroke will be published in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is the global leader in transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all. As the preeminent source of professional medical education for the entire cardiovascular care team since 1949, ACC credentials cardiovascular professionals in over 140 countries who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. Through its world-renowned family of JACC Journals, NCDR registries, ACC Accreditation Services, global network of Member Sections, CardioSmart patient resources and more, the College is committed to ensuring aworld where science, knowledge and innovation optimize patient care and outcomes. Learn more at www.ACC.org or follow @ACCinTouch.

The ACC’s JACC Journals rank among the top cardiovascular journals in the world for scientific impact. The flagship journal, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) — and specialty journals consisting of JACC: Advances, JACC: Asia, JACC: Basic to Translational Science, JACC: CardioOncology, JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging, JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, JACC: Case Reports, JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology and JACC: Heart Failure — pride themselves on publishing the top peer-reviewed research on all aspects of cardiovascular disease. Learn more at JACC.org.  

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