[What to do with device-detected atrial fibrillation? : Executive summary of the position paper of the German Society of Cardiology].

Device-detected atrial fibrillation (DDAF), like clinical atrial fibrillation (AF), is also associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events, although the risk appears to be significantly lower. The efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulation in DDAF were investigated in two large randomized trials (NOAH-AFNET 6 and ARTESIA [13, 19]). They showed a low rate of ischemic strokes without anticoagulation (about 1% per year). This risk can still be reduced by therapeutic anticoagulation, but the risk of severe bleeding increases. In the recently published position paper [36] of the German Society of Cardiology, the current study situation was presented and expert recommendations were given on how to deal with DDAF.