OBJECTIVES: @entity4905 ( @entity4905 ) are an important precursor of @entity64 . @entity955 ( @entity955 ) is among the most dangerous aetiologies shared between @entity4905 and @entity64 . Detection of @entity955 after @entity4905 is essential for the initiation of oral anticoagulants. We aimed to identify variations in the use of cardiac investigations used to detect @entity955 and cardiac pathology in @entity1 with @entity4905 in the UK. SETTING: All @entity4905 clinical leads in England and Wales received an invitation by email to participate in an online survey in February 2015. The questionnaire consisted of 36 multiple choice questions covering the domains: (1) general information about @entity64 units, (2) ECG diagnostics and cardiologic work-up and (3) management of @entity955 . RESULTS: 146 survey invitations were sent. The response rate was 40% (n=59). Diagnosis of @entity955 largely depends on medical history and 12-channel ECG which is performed in the vast majority of @entity1 with @entity4905 (>75%) in 94.1% of the @entity4905 services. Many @entity1 with @entity4905 either do not receive 24-hour Holter recording (requested regularly in 42% of the services) or only after considerable delay (>2   weeks). Prolonged event recording is only rarely performed (16%). Only about half of @entity1 with @entity4905 undergo echocardiography. Cranial imaging in @entity1 with @entity4905 is mainly performed as CT (62%). The majority of @entity4905 clinics rapidly initiate anticoagulation in @entity4905 @entity1 with @entity955 (81.6%) preferably using new oral anticoagulants (75.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Significant variation in the cardiac diagnostic work-up following @entity4905 exists regarding the use of particular detection techniques and the duration of cardiac ECG monitoring. Only limited resources are allocated to cardiac evaluation. In addition to research establishing the optimal ECG technique for @entity1 with @entity4905 , healthcare delivery programmes are needed to ensure proper management to prevent @entity64 .

Cardiac diagnostic work-up for XXXX after transient ischaemic attacks in England and Wales: results from a cross-sectional survey.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity4905 :: ('MESH:D002546', 'Disease') :: ['TIAs', 'Transient ischaemic attacks', 'TIA'] @entity64 :: ('MESH:D020521', 'Disease') :: ['strokes', 'stroke'] @entity955 :: ('MESH:D001281', 'Disease') :: ['Atrial fibrillation', 'AF']
@entity955 :: (MESH:D001281,Disease) :: ['atrial fibrillation']
