A report launched today by experts from medical and patient communities
calls on Europe's policy makers to take urgent action against
preventable strokes that strike thousands of atrial fibrillation (AF)
patients each year
- Affecting over six million people in Europe, AF, the most common,
sustained abnormal heart rhythm, increases the risk of stroke five-
fold and is responsible for 15-20% of all strokes caused by blood
clots (ischaemic stroke),
- The consequences of stroke can devastate not only a patient's quality
of life, but also that of families and carers
- The economic burden of stroke on the European economy is estimated at a
staggering EUR 38 billion per annum
- The impact of stroke is predicted to rise dramatically as the number of
individuals affected by AF is expected to increase 2.5 fold by
2050, due to an ageing population and improved survival of
patients with conditions which predispose AF (e.g. heart attack) - Many AF-related strokes could be prevented by earlier detection and
improved treatment of AF.
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?, launched in the European Parliament today by Action for Stroke
Prevention, a group of health experts from across Europe, proposes measures
to tackle stroke in patients with AF, the most common, sustained abnormal
heart rhythm and a major cause of stroke. Their proposal, endorsed by 17
leading European medical professional and patient organisations, calls for EU
policy makers and Member State governments to act before the increasing
frequency of these strokes becomes a major public health crisis.
The Report warns of a stroke epidemic across Europe, if actions are not
taken now to slow the rising tide of preventable strokes occurring every
year. Linda McAvan, Member of the European Parliament (MEP), commented, "It
is important that government and healthcare policy makers take action to
address the unmet medical needs in stroke prevention. I support the
recommendations made in the Report by Action for Stroke Prevention, and
believe that their implementation will contribute to the prevention of stroke
in patients with AF and, in turn, reduce the dramatically increasing
clinical, economic and social burden of stroke in Europe."
Recommendations made by the Report include: improving patient education
and stroke risk assessment, taking new approaches to prevention, facilitating
the exchange of best practice between Member States, developing strategies to
support adherence to guidelines, and the provision of equal and adequate
administration of therapy for patients with AF.
Unmet medical need to prevent stroke in atrial fibrillation patients