Facts about the project
Project manager
Ulrica Lovén Wickman
Other project members
Jörg Carlsson
Participating organizations
Linnaeus University
Financier
Linnaeus University
Timetable
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2026
Subject
Caring Science (Department of Health and Caring sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences)
Knowledge Environment
Linnaeus Knowledge Environment: Sustainable Health
More about the project
Linnaeus University operates a health clinic as a part of nursing education at the Department of Health and Caring Sciences. Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is an abnormal heart rhythm characterized by rapid and irregular beating of the atrial chambers of the heart. Many of the patients with AF are not aware of their arrhythmia as it might be asymptomatic. To appropriately treat it, it is obviously necessary to know about it. Therefore, the health clinic might be a good opportunity to screen for AF.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia and is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events such as heart failure, stroke, and myocardial infarction. Known predictors are age, male sex, hypertension (bloodpressure >140/90), and valvular heart disease. Atrial tachyarrhythmias are even highly prevalent in congenital heart disease. AF is a very common arrhythmia and confers an increased risk of stroke and embolism to other parts of the body. Depending on other risk factors most patients profit from anticoagulation to lower their risk of stroke/systemic embolism. AF can be paroxysmal, persistent and permanent. Furthermore, it can be asymptomatic for the patient who therefore doesn´t seek medical attention and consequently lives with a stroke risk that could be lowered by anticoagulation treatment.
The overall aim of this project is to conduct opportunistic screening of atrial fibrillation among adult participants at a health clinic.
Research questions:
- What is the prevalence of AF among participants at the health clinic? Is the prevalence high enough to make such screening worthwhile?
- What is the impact of living habits and stress in everyday life on the prevalence of AF and the overall health related quality of life of participants?
The inclusion criteria are adults recruited by Linnaeus university homepage or daily newspaper and are willing to take part in the study. Adult participants will be informed about the possibility to take part in the study either on the Linnaeus University homepage when booking an appointment or in person when they come for their visit to the health clinic.
The health profile assessment in the study will include capillary sampling (blood sugar and total cholesterol), blood pressure and pulse, height, weight, Body Mass Index, waist measurement, impedance measurement (body fat), a 12 leads-ECG and questionnaires on socio-demographic data, about lifestyle, perceived stress and health related quality of life. A form for data-collection will be used and the specified questionnaires to be used in the project are established and thoroughly tested.
Atrial fibrillation is a major public health concern associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. Despite the knowledge about its prevalence and impact, there are knowledge gaps regarding the patients visiting health clinics. The study wants to shed light on the occurrence of atrial fibrillation in the participants visiting a health clinic. Offering this study within the context of a health clinic, where participants voluntarily participate for health profile assessment, highlights the need to explore ways of opportunistic screening of atrial fibrillation.
The project is part of the research in the Linnaeus Knowledge Environment: Sustainable Health
