Atrial Fibrillation News and Research

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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia. An arrhythmia is a problem with the speed or rhythm of the heartbeat. A disorder in the heart’s electrical system causes AF and other types of arrhythmia. AF occurs when rapid, disorganized electrical signals in the heart’s two upper chambers, called the atria, cause them to contract very fast and irregularly (this is called fibrillation). As a result, blood pools in the atria and isn’t pumped completely into the heart’s two lower chambers, called the ventricles. When this happens, the heart’s upper and lower chambers don’t work together as they should. Often, people who have AF may not even feel symptoms. However, even when not noticed, AF can lead to an increased risk of stroke. In many patients, particularly when the rhythm is extremely rapid, AF can cause chest pain, heart attack, or heart failure. AF may occur rarely or every now and then, or it may become a persistent or permanent heart rhythm lasting for years.

Physically active people with atrial fibrillation live longer

Garnvik and his colleagues in the Cardiac Exercise Research Group have investigated how physical activity and good fitness levels are linked to future health risks for men and women who have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.

19 May 2020

Atrial fibrillation risk not linked to the amount of body fat, study shows

In a recently published study, researchers from Aarhus University document that the risk of atrial fibrillation is not linked to the amount of body fat, but instead to large muscle mass, or more precisely, a high fat-free weight.

18 May 2020

ACE inhibitors should not be discontinued over fears about COVID-19, say researchers

Researchers in Europe have found no evidence to support previous reports that the use of drugs that target the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) increases susceptibility to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The research is published in the European Heart Journal.

10 May 2020

Artificial intelligence may help diagnose diseases that affect the heart

Artificial intelligence (AI) may be an aid to interpreting ECG results, helping healthcare staff to diagnose diseases that affect the heart.

5 May 2020

AI tool automatically diagnoses atrial fibrillation and other ECG abnormalities

Artificial intelligence may be an aid to interpreting ECG results, helping healthcare staff to diagnose diseases that affect the heart.

4 May 2020

Aggressive blood pressure control may reduce risk of atrial fibrillation

Intensive blood pressure control may reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heartbeat that can lead to serious complications such as stroke, heart failure and heart attacks, according to scientists at Wake Forest School of Medicine.

4 May 2020

AAN publishes updated practice advisory on closure of common heart defect after stroke

New guidance from the American Academy of Neurology concludes that closure of a common heart defect called a patent foramen ovale may be recommended for some people who have had a stroke.

29 Apr 2020

Do ACE inhibitors increase SARS-CoV-2 binding to ACE2?

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced clinicians and academicians to intensive research to find evidence for many conventional therapies. A new round-up editorial published in the journal Cardiovascular Research in April 2020 summarizes the current clinical grounds for and against the use of the commonly used angiotensin axis inhibitors in patients with COVID-19.

20 Apr 2020

Study demonstrates the benefits of genomic risk assessment in preventing common diseases

A new Finnish study demonstrated the benefits of large-scale genomic information in estimating the risk of onset for cardiac diseases, diabetes and common cancers.

10 Apr 2020

COVID-19 adversely impacts patients with cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders

COVID-19 has a significant impact on patients with pre-existing conditions, many of which fall under the cardiovascular and metabolic disorder category.

3 Apr 2020

COVID-19: What the illness looks like

With increasing information about COVID-19 disease gathered first-hand, a more accurate picture of the clinical features is coming together.

2 Apr 2020

CVIA publishes new issue that brings key research papers from top cardiologists

The journal Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications (CVIA) has just published a new issue, Volume 4 Issue 3 with an invitation to join the International Brugada Electrocardiographic Indices Registry.

1 Apr 2020

Mobile health devices effective in reducing AF-related adverse events, study finds

A new study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, highlights the feasible use of mobile health (mHealth) devices to help with the screening and detection of a common heart condition.

31 Mar 2020

Higher serum EPA levels from prescription fish oil associated with lower cardiovascular events

Higher levels of the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) found in the blood—and not a decrease in triglyceride levels as originally thought—appear to explain the striking reductions in cardiovascular events and deaths seen among people taking 4 grams daily of the prescription fish oil, icosapent ethyl, according to findings from a REDUCE-IT substudy presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session Together with World Congress of Cardiology

30 Mar 2020

Adding antiplatelet therapy to oral anticoagulants raises risk for TAVR patients with atrial fibrillation

Patients with atrial fibrillation who took oral anticoagulants alone after undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement had a lower rate of bleeding complications without an increased risk of clotting-related complications compared to patients who took antiplatelet medication in addition to oral anticoagulants, in a trial presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session Together with World Congress of Cardiology.

29 Mar 2020

More protein intake could cut the risk of developing atrial fibrillation in women

Women who ate slightly more than the recommended daily amount of protein were significantly less likely to develop atrial fibrillation

19 Mar 2020

People with a cancer history have increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation

People with a history of cancer have an over two-fold risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common heart rhythm disorder, compared to the general population, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session Together with World Congress of Cardiology

18 Mar 2020

TTP plc establishes new partnership to enable better clinical management of patients with atrial fibrillation

TTP plc, a leading independent technology and product development company, today announced it has established a partnership with NHS Highland and The University of the Highlands and Islands, to use clinical data interpretation and machine learning algorithms to predict which patients with atrial fibrillation are able to be successfully treated using electrical cardioversion.

17 Mar 2020

Improving lifestyle habits may be useful additions to management of atrial fibrillation

Weight loss, regular physical activity and other lifestyle changes are effective yet underused strategies that should be added to optimize management of atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm), according to "Lifestyle and Risk Factor Modification for Reduction of Atrial Fibrillation," a new Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association published today in the Association's flagship journal Circulation.

9 Mar 2020

Mayo research provides evidence supporting benefit of ablation for heart failure patients with AFib

Only 1 in 13 everyday patients could have participated in a pivotal international clinical trial looking at the use of catheter ablation to treat atrial fibrillation among people with heart failure.

4 Mar 2020