TY - JOUR T1 - Stroke detection and prevention in atrial fibrillation JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 332 LP - 333 DO - 10.3399/bjgp15X685513 VL - 65 IS - 636 AU - FD Richard Hobbs Y1 - 2015/07/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/65/636/332.abstract N2 - Preventing stroke should be one of the most important priorities of any healthcare system. It is a devastating outcome for patients and their families, second only to cancer in terms of what patients most want to avoid.Managing stroke and its sequelae has huge cost implications for health and social care systems. In this issue of the BJGP, three articles deal with the subject of stroke and its better prevention. One important theme is the earlier triage of stroke in patients presenting with symptoms, with the article by Mellor and colleagues showing that UK GP receptionists appear to have good theoretical knowledge of predictive symptoms, but performed a little less well when role players simulating patients with symptoms possibly due to stroke, telephoned practices.1 However, 69% were advised to call emergency services immediately, with lower urgent dealings for the scenarios that were pre-rated as ‘difficult’.In terms of stroke prevention, alongside detection and management of hypertension and other vascular risks, the most important strategy is the diagnosis and stroke risk stratification and management of atrial fibrillation (AF). Atrial fibrillation is the commonest cardiac arrhythmia, with about 1–2% of the general population estimated to be affected.2,3 It is a particularly common disorder in older people, with over 5% aged ≥65 years experiencing AF, and around 10% of people aged ≥75 years,4–6 with the prevalence … ER -