Search Tag: atrial fibrillation
Alcohol-consumption-and-atrial-fibrillation
2019 24 Jan
In a small cross-sectional study, regular alcohol intake at moderate levels was found to be associated with electrical and structural changes in atrial myocardium. The study is published in Heart Rhythm. The study included 75 healthy patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation. Of the 75 participants, 25 were lifelong non-drinkers,...Read more
Capture-atrial-fibrillation-using-preventicus-with-95-accuracy
2018 22 Sep
International validation study published in Europace The European Journal of Pacing, Arrhythmias and Cardiac Electrophysiology of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Early detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) is essential for stroke prevention. Emerging technologies such as smartphone...Read more
Home-based-wearable-ecg-monitoring-patch-improves-af-diagnosis
2018 18 Jul
Among individuals at increased risk for atrial fibrillation (AF), use of a home-based self-applied electrocardiogram (ECG) patch facilitated AF diagnosis, according to a new study published in JAMA. Further research is needed regarding clinical implications of this finding, study authors note. For approximately 20 percent of individuals who...Read more
Practice-variation-in-managing-af-during-critical-illness
2018 24 Apr
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia encountered in the intensive care unit. Pre-existing AF is highly prevalent among older patients with chronic conditions who are at risk for critical illness, while new-onset AF can be triggered by accelerated atrial remodelling and arrhythmogenic triggers encountered during critical illness. However,...Read more
Preventing-stroke-in-atrial-fibrillation
2018 17 Apr
Atrial fibrillation (AF), which affects nearly 3 million adults in the U.S., is associated with increased risk of thromboembolic complications, especially stroke. Indeed, AF is a stronger risk factor than hypertension, coronary disease, or heart failure and is associated with an approximately five-fold increased risk of stroke, according to an article...Read more
Are-newer-anticoagulants-safer-than-warfarin
2018 03 Apr
A new study compared outcomes among patients with atrial fibrillation hospitalised for bleeding after starting anticoagulation (warfarin, dabigatran, or rivaroxaban). Results show rivaroxaban and dabigatran were associated with shorter hospitalisations; however, there were no differences in 30- and 90-day mortality. These findings suggest bleeding...Read more
Depression-increases-risk-for-atrial-fibrillation
2018 27 Mar
Preliminary research indicates that depression may increase the risk for atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common heart rhythm disorder that can lead to blood clot formation and stroke. The findings presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2018 shed further light on the belief that mental health and heart health are closely...Read more
Catheter-ablation-better-than-drugs-for-treating-af
2018 06 Feb
The findings of the eight-year CASTLE-AF clinical trial provide strong data on the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation in treating atrial fibrillation (AF), which can cause heart failure. The trial showed radiofrequency catheter ablation lowered hospitalisation and mortality rates by 47 and 44 percent, respectively, in AF patients. The study,...Read more
Study-af-hospital-mortality-risk-higher-in-rural-areas
2017 12 Dec
According to researchers in the U.S., urban-rural differences exist when it comes to the risk of hospital mortality among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Their study shows that AF patients have a 17 percent increased risk of death in rural hospitals compared to their counterparts in urban hospitals. The findings are reported in the journal...Read more
Atrial-fibrillation
2017 19 Sep
Latest treatments New techniques in ablation and imaging are broadening the options for treating patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinical arrhythmia seen in the daily clinic. It has an important impact on the economic health burden, as many patients are affected by...Read more
Esc17-implanted-cardiac-monitors-detect-undiagnosed-atrial-fibrillation
2017 28 Aug
The incidence of previously undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) may be substantial in patients with risk factors for AF and stroke, according to a study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2017. By using implanted cardiac monitors, researchers detected nearly 30 percent of previously undiagnosed AF after 18 months in this high-risk...Read more
Long-working-hours-and-increased-afib-risk
2017 18 Jul
Long working hours are shown to be associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common cardiac arrhythmia. Researchers found that, compared to people who worked a normal week of between 35-40 hours, those who worked 55 hours or more were about 40% more likely to develop AFib during the following 10 years. "This could be...Read more
Current-af-guidelines-important-differences
2017 20 Jun
Guidelines regarding the management of atrial fibrillation have been published by major cardiovascular societies. Although the majority of recommendations within the current guidelines are similar, important differences are observed particularly when the quality of evidence is moderate or low, according to a review article to appear in the Canadian...Read more
Study-treatment-gap-in-patients-suffering-from-atrial-fibrillation
2017 13 Jun
Findings of a study by University of Birmingham reveal a treatment gap in patients suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF). Research findings are published in Heart. AF is associated with a five-fold increase in risk of stroke. There are three types of AF: paroxysmal where episodes come and go and usually stop without any treatment persistent...Read more
New-imaging-technique-for-af-minimises-radiation-exposure
2017 04 Jun
According to cardiologists from NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, a new imaging technique should be more widely adopted by physicians to treat atrial fibrillation as it limits or eliminates patients' exposure to radiation. The article is published in Heart Rhythm. The specialists believe that the primary obstacle to the widespread...Read more
Chocolate-decreases-risk-of-atrial-fibrillation
2017 27 May
Findings of a large study conducted with men and women in Denmark show that consuming moderate amounts of chocolate is associated with significantly lower risk of atrial fibrillation. The study was conducted by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and findings are published in Heart. These findings add to the already accumulating...Read more
Combined-risk-scores-better-identify-afib-patients-at-risk-of-dementia
2017 15 May
Combining risk scores can help clinicians better identify atrial fibrillation patients who are at an increased risk of developing dementia. Findings were presented during Heart Rhythm 2017. See Also : Delayed Use of Blood Thinners Increases Risk of Dementia The Intermountain Mortality Risk Score (IMRS) was developed by clinicians at Intermountain...Read more
Aspirin-doesn-t-lower-risk-of-stroke-in-low-risk-af-patients
2017 14 May
Findings from a new study conducted by researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute show that long-term aspirin therapy in patients who are considered to be low risk for stroke is not as effective as previously believed. The findings were presented at Heart Rhythm 2017, the Heart Rhythm Society's 38th Annual Scientific Sessions...Read more
Delayed-use-of-blood-thinners-increases-risk-of-dementia
2017 13 May
Findings from a new study show that dementia rates increase when anticoagulation treatment is delayed for patients with atrial fibrillation. The results of the study were presented at Heart Rhythm 2017, the Heart Rhythm Society's 38th Annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago. This is the first study of its kind conducted by researchers at the...Read more
Study-identifies-biomarker-associated-with-atrial-fibrillation
2017 12 May
A new microRNA biomarker has been identified that may have a strong association with the incidence of atrial fibrillation. The findings were presented today at Heart Rhythm 2017, the Heart Rhythms Society's 38th Annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago. See Also : New Source of Electrical Instability in the Heart Researchers from Intermountain...Read more
Troponin-as-biomarker-in-heart-rhythm-disease
2017 25 Apr
Although the utility of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays remains at an investigational stage in cardiac electrophysiology, studies to date have suggested value as a prognostic biomarker in atrial fibrillation and as a screening marker for patients at high risk of sudden cardiac death, according to a review published in The American...Read more
11th-international-conference-on-acute-cardiac-care
2018 11 Jun
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Healthy-lifestyle-key-factor-in-af-prevention
2017 17 Apr
Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common persistent cardiac arrhythmia, is an increasing burden worldwide. The global burden of AF in 2010 was estimated at about 33.5 million, with close to 5 million new cases diagnosed annually. A high proportion of AF can be prevented by combining strategies, focusing on the high-risk population for better risk...Read more
Study-anticoagulant-apixaban-better-than-warfarin
2017 02 Apr
Patients with atrial fibrillation have a substantially reduced risk of dangerous bleeding in the brain ("intracranial haemorrhage") when taking the newer anticoagulant apixaban compared to those taking warfarin, according to a new study published in the journal Blood. Researchers also found that taking aspirin increased the risk of intracranial haemorrhage,...Read more
New-markers-associated-with-afib-recurrence-after-ablation
2017 20 Mar
Certain molecules – known as circulating microRNA – are associated with the recurrence of atrial fibrillation ("erratic heartbeats") in some patients after ablation therapy, according to new research presented at the American College of Cardiology's Scientific Session in Washington, D.C. These molecules could be used as screening tools to identify...Read more
Does-cardioversion-for-af-improve-quality-of-life
2017 07 Feb
It seems at first glance to be self-evident that sinus rhythm is preferable to atrial fibrillation (AF). However, even with decades of observational studies, clinical trials, and innumerable caregiver-patient interactions, it continues to be deceptively difficult to verify this common sense expectation, says an Editorial article to appear in Canadian...Read more
Over-50-of-af-patients-become-asymptomatic-after-ablation
2017 23 Jan
More than half of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) become asymptomatic after catheter ablation, according to the largest study of the procedure published in European Heart Journal. The article details the in-hospital and one-year outcomes and management of 3,630 AF patients treated with catheter ablation in Europe, the Middle East and North...Read more
New-guidelines-surgical-ablation-can-reduce-afib
2016 20 Dec
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) has issued major recommendations for the use of surgical ablation when treating atrial fibrillation (Afib), the most common type of irregular heartbeat. These recommendations are included in the new clinical practice guidelines published by STS in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. See Also : Current Models...Read more
Current-models-do-not-predict-atrial-fibrillation-risk-accurately
2016 17 Oct
In a study published in the JAMA Cardiology , Darbar and colleagues found that the risk prediction model for atrial fibrillation (AF) developed by investigators on the Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology-Atrial Fibrillation (CHARGE-AF) trial does not accurately predict incidence of the condition. Various risk models have been...Read more