We just received the info below, which might be of interest to anyone with afib who is in Philadelphia, Dallas or Chicago…

I have a client who would like to interview 45 people in Philadelphia, Dallas and Chicago who have been diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation, in mid March. These in-person interviews will last for no more than sixty minutes. Each participant will receive $125, in cash, as a thank-you for their time and trouble. There will be no testing of any treatments or drugs–all we’re interested in is some insight into the experiences people are having treating AFIB. I can be reached, anytime, on my cell phone, at 347-302-9896, or via email at pfc@nyc.rr.com. This is not a sales presentation of any sort–strictly medical opinion research.

Tags: Study, Treatment by Mellanie
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On September 16, 2009, the AF Stat^TM coalition launched two major reports, the AF Stat Call to Action for Atrial Fibrillation and the Avalere Health report Medicare and Atrial Fibrillation: Consequences in Costs and Care. The videos from that webcast are now available for viewing online.

Learn more about AF Stat and access the webcast:
AF Stat^TM Webcast Video Presents Priorities to Improve Atrial Fibrillation Patient Care

Tags: AF Stat, Advocacy, Audio/Video, Events, General, Resources, Study by Mellanie
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A newly published study shows obesity is a major risk factor for left atrial enlargement (LAE), a condition in which the left upper chamber of the heart is oversized. That’s important to people who are concerned about atrial fibrillation (AF) because LAE is a risk factor for afib, stroke and death.

Read more: Obesity Raises Risk of Left Atrial Enlargement, a Risk Factor for Atrial Fibrillation

Tags: Causes or Triggers, High blood pressure, Prevention, Stroke, Study 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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A new study reports that blood levels of a protein hormone called N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) predicts new atrial fibrillation, regardless of other afib risk factors. Those with the highest levels were four times as likely to develop afib as those with the lowest levels. In the study, elevated levels of NT-proBNP occurred as much as 16 years before the onset of atrial fibrillation. Tests for NT-proBNP are available today, but are mainly used for screening for heart failure and heart disease.

To learn more, read: Study Finds Major Predictor for Development of New Atrial Fibrillation (AF)

Tags: Causes or Triggers, Stroke, Study by Mellanie
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Sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that disrupts breathing during sleep, is believed to be linked to atrial fibrillation (AF) but until now, we didn’t know if apnea could actually trigger arrhythmias like afib. Now a new study shows the odds of having an abnormal heartbeat are 18 times higher immediately after an apnea episode, compared to the risk during normal sleep breathing.

Read: Sleep Apnea Multiplies Risk of Arrhythmias Like Atrial Fibrillation

Tags: Causes or Triggers, Prevention, Sleep Apnea, Study, Treatment by Mellanie
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Research shows the sooner an atrial fibrillation surgical procedure is done, the less likely afib is to recur. People in permanent atrial fibrillation who underwent surgery for other heart diseases and had a left atrial ablation procedure for AF at the same time were more likely to be afib-free if the procedure was done within two years and their left atrium size was normal.

Study participants had atrial fibrillation procedures concomitant (at the same time) with open-heart mitral valve, aortic valve, or coronary artery bypass surgery. The procedures were done using either microwave or radiofrequency energy.

The study found that afib recurrence was not influenced by age, gender, primary heart disease, history of blood clots, technology, or use of antiarrhythmic drugs.

Read more: Atrial Fibrillation Procedure Within Two Years Reduces Risk of Afib Recurrence

Tags: Cure, Risk, Study, Surgery, 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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A study of radio-frequency catheter ablation by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) was one of the first government-mandated Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) studies released. The report found that catheter ablation appears effective up to one year after the procedure, but more research is needed into longer-term success as well as the impact on stroke and with certain populations. In addition, we need to know whether patients can have catheter ablation for afib as their first treatment rather than waiting for medications to fail before considering it. If you’re thinking about getting a catheter ablation, this report holds a wealth of information for you.

Read:  Is Radio-frequency Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation Ready for Prime Time with Patients and Doctors — Share Your Opinion

After you have read the article, please come back here and add your comments below for our discussion at the AHRQ conference on 9/14/09.

Tags: Catheter ablation, Resources, Study, Treatment by Mellanie
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