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.

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

EHRA 2020: Latest practice-changing research in heart rhythm disorders

Get ready for the latest practice-changing research in heart rhythm disorders: presented at EHRA 2020, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology.

27 Feb 2020

First patient in U.S. treated for atrial fibrillation using new type of ablation technology

Cardiologists at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center are the first in the United States to test a new type of ablation technology for patients suffering from atrial fibrillation, a common type of irregular heartbeat.

26 Feb 2020

Extreme endurance exercise can increase risk of cardiovascular events

For most people, the benefits of aerobic exercise far outweigh the risks, however, extreme endurance exercise - such as participation in marathons and triathlons for people who aren't accustomed to high-intensity exercise - can raise the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, atrial fibrillation (a heart rhythm disorder) or heart attacks, according to a new Scientific Statement "Exercise-Related Acute Cardiovascular Events and Potential Deleterious Adaptations Following Long-Term Exercise Training: Placing the Risks Into Perspective-An Update from the American Heart Association," published today in the Association's premier journal Circulation.

26 Feb 2020

Secondary analysis reinforces safety of blood thinner

Treatment with the blood thinner apixaban was associated with a lower risk of bleeding, death and hospitalization compared with warfarin, regardless of history of prior stroke or blood clot, according to a secondary analysis presented as late breaking science today at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2020.

23 Feb 2020

Study finds racial, ethnic disparities in stroke prevention among patients undergoing dialysis

In a study of patients with kidney failure and atrial fibrillation, racial/ethnic minorities experienced higher rates of stroke compared with non-Hispanic White patients, and they were less likely to fill prescriptions of stroke-preventive medications.

20 Feb 2020

Survey: 55% of American adults feel tired after spring daylight saving time transition

The start of daylight saving time means many will lose an hour of sleep – and 55% of Americans report feeling tired after the time change, according to a new survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

19 Feb 2020

Vitamin C may shorten duration of mechanical ventilation in critical care patients

Vitamin C administration shortened the duration of mechanical ventilation in critical care patients, but the effect depended on the severity of illness.

16 Feb 2020

Acute Cardiovascular Care 2020 will highlight novel research on recovery from heart emergencies

Innovative research in the diagnosis and treatment of heart emergencies will be revealed at Acute Cardiovascular Care 2020, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology.

9 Feb 2020

Medtronic receives CE Mark for Cobalt and Crome portfolio of ICDs and CRT-Ds

Medtronic plc today announced it has received CE (Conformité Européenne) Mark for its Cobalt and Crome portfolio of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillators (CRT-D).

From Medtronic 31 Jan 2020

Future of cardiovascular disease management revolves around remote patient monitoring

Cardiovascular disease must be better managed for patient care to improve. The protocols for monitoring patients are rapidly evolving. Historically, patients who fall ill are required to travel in order to visit a general practitioner or hospital. This procedure may soon become a thing of the past.

From IDTechEx Ltd 30 Jan 2020

Study advances the understanding of capillary regression

Many diseases arise from abnormalities in our capillaries, tiny exquisitely branching blood vessel networks that play a critical role in tissue health.

29 Jan 2020

Patients can be discharged 3 days after open heart surgery without increased risk for complications

Patients who undergo open heart surgery and head home 3 days later are not at increased risk for complications, according to a scientific presentation at the 56th Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

27 Jan 2020

Holistic and data-driven health assessment can help achieve early disease detection

Human Longevity, Inc., an innovator in providing data-driven health intelligence and precision health to physicians and patients, announced today the publication of a ground-breaking study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.