The Atrial Fibrillation Association in the UK was shocked by the decision by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to deny atrial fibrillation patients access to dronedarone, a medication that has been approved in the U.S. and Europe. AFA is conducting a campaign to make the voices of atrial fibrillation patients heard. If you’re in the UK, and are as shocked as we are by NICE’s decision, please take action today.

Learn more about what you can do to influence NICE’s decision

Tags: Advocacy, Medication, Treatment by Mellanie
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At Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium 2010, Prof. John Camm talked about the two newest antiarrhythmic drugs for atrial fibrillation treatment, dronedarone (Multaq®) and vernakalant. These antiarrhythmic (rhythm control) drugs help to put patients back into normal sinus rhythm, or to keep them in it.

See the video: Interview with Professor John Camm at Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium 2010

Tags: Events, Medication, Treatment by Mellanie
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If you have a problem getting Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or your health insurance plan to cover an atrial fibrillation treatment, such as an afib medication, catheter ablation, or mini maze surgery, you don’t have to take “no” for an answer. You can push back by requesting a “coverage determination” or submitting an appeal.

To learn how, read:  How to Push Back if Medicare or Other Health Insurance Says “No” to Atrial Fibrillation Treatment

Tags: Catheter ablation, Medication, Resources, Surgery, Treatment by Mellanie
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Urgent coordinated action is needed to avoid the thousands of preventable strokes that leave many atrial fibrillation (AF) patients mentally and physically disabled or dead every year. A report, How Can We Avoid a Stroke Crisis?, was launched today in the European Parliament in Brussels by Action for Stroke Prevention, a group of health experts from across Europe.

It proposes measures to tackle stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (afib), the most common, sustained abnormal heart rhythm and a major cause of stroke. Their proposal, endorsed by 17 leading European medical professional and patient organizations, calls for EU policy makers and Member State governments to act before the increasing frequency of these strokes becomes a major public health crisis.

StopAfib.org is proud to be one of the 17 organizations involved in and endorsing this report.

To learn more, read: Action for Stroke Prevention Launches New Health Report Exposing Imminent Risk of a Stroke Crisis in Europe

Tags: Advocacy, Anticoagulation, Medication, Prevention, Stroke by Mellanie
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This very important story may change how afib patients and their doctors decide if they should be on anticoagulant medications (blood thinners), such as Coumadin or warfarin.

The CHADS₂ scoring system is how doctors now decide who should be on Coumadin or warfarin to avoid strokes, but a newly-published study adds new stroke risk factors that are not considered in CHADS₂.

These new risk factors, including being female, having heart or vascular disease, and being age 65 or greater (CHADS₂ uses 75 or greater), have been incorporated in a scoring system called the “2009 Birmingham Schema” (CHA₂DS₂-VASc). This new approach enhances the existing CHADS₂ system, giving two points to definitive stroke risk factors and one point to combination stroke risk factors.

To learn more, read:  New Stroke Risk Factors for Those with Atrial Fibrillation: Female Gender, Heart Disease, and Age

Tags: Anticoagulation, High blood pressure, Medication, Risk, Stroke, Study, Treatment, Women by Mellanie
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RECORD AF registry findings were presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. This registry looked at how newly-diagnosed afib patients were being managed in the real world. These results differed from previously-reported research, such as the AFFIRM (Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management) trial.

In the real world, more cardiologists chose rhythm drugs over rate drugs for atrial fibrillation treatment. Though clinical outcomes were similar for both, rhythm control showed some advantages, including that far fewer progressed to permanent atrial fibrillation within the year.

Read more at: Which is Better, Rate Control or Rhythm Control For Atrial Fibrillation: Results From the RECORD AF Registry

Tags: Medication, Study, Treatment by Mellanie
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The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has introduced a video to help those on anticoagulant drugs, such as Coumadin or warfarin, to use them safely. The video is designed to complement what patients learn from their doctors, pharmacies, or Coumadin clinics.

Anticoagulants reduce the risk of stroke in those with atrial fibrillation by avoiding the formation of blood clots, but they can also be difficult to use and are a major source of hospitalizations and emergency room visits. The video, Staying Active and Healthy with Blood Thinners, aims to make them easier to manage by introducing four steps for patients to follow. The video, which is available in both English and Spanish, is also accompanied by a booklet.

Find out more:  Video Helps Those with Atrial Fibrillation to Safely Manage Anticoagulant Medications Coumadin and Warfarin

Tags: Anticoagulation, Audio/Video, Medication by Mellanie
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If you’re interested in being part of a clinical research study comparing an investigational drug (a drug that is not FDA-approved) to Coumadin®, please contact:

Jay Garcia
Novellus Research Sites
11160 Warner Ave, Suite 109
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
714-786-5155

Tags: Medication, Treatment by Mellanie
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There is a lot of big news coming out of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) going on in Barcelona right now. Judging by attendance, this is probably the biggest cardiology event in the world.

The big announcement for atrial fibrillation sufferers is the progress towards a replacement for Coumadin (warfarin) coming out of the results of the Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulant Therapy trial, known as the RE-LY trial.

Trial results showed that dabigatran, a potential Coumadin® replacement that is marketed under the brand name of Pradaxa outside the U.S., is more effective than warfarin at preventing strokes from clotting (ischemic stroke) and bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke).

This is great news for those with atrial fibrillation who are on warfarin as it is so difficult and time-consuming to manage that most who are on it are only in the therapeutic range (INR between 2.0 and 3.0) two-thirds of the time.

Also of interest is the new Stroke Prevention channel on You Tube that Boehringer Ingelheim, the manufacturer of dabigatran, launched in conjunction with the release of the study findings.

Read more and get the link to some stroke prevention videos at: Dabigatran Better than Warfarin for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation

Tags: Anticoagulation, Medication, Resources, Study, Treatment by Mellanie
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We hear from so many afib patients every day about the trials, tribulations, and fears regarding being on amiodarone, or their refusal to take it. Since the FDA approved Multaq® (dronedarone) recently, the most frequent question I’ve fielded has been “When will Multaq® be available?” That happened this week, and the excitement they have shared with us has been palpable.

So, on behalf of the atrial fibrillation patient community, StopAfib.org felt it was appropriate to thank and applaud the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for providing a safer option for those with atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. Dronedarone is the first new anti-arrhythmic drug approved in years for afib. There are now more options for fighting that afib beast. Read more:

StopAfib.org Applauds the FDA for Providing a Safer Option for Those with Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter

Tags: Medication, Treatment by Mellanie
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