Arrhythmia News and Research

RSS

An arrhythmia is a problem with the speed or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. A heartbeat that is too fast is called tachycardia. A heartbeat that is too slow is called bradycardia. Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can be serious or even life threatening. When the heart rate is too slow, too fast, or irregular, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. Lack of blood flow can damage the brain, heart, and other organs.

Expert report highlights urgent action needed to lessen the future impact of Atrial Fibrillation in Europe

Researched and written by RAND Europe, with contributions from a panel of leading European medical, patient group and health economic experts, the Future of Anticoagulation Report explores how decisions made today can change and reshape the landscape of tomorrow...

3 Jun 2015

Heart failure patient spearheads Heather Cartwright Inherited Cardiomyopathy and Arrhythmia Project

Led by internationally-recognized cardiologists who are leaders in their field, the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre today announces the creation of an initiative to break ground in the cause, treatment and ongoing care of patients with an inherited, irregular heartbeat triggered by a rare cardiac structural condition.

30 May 2015

FDA approves Humalog 200 units/mL KwikPen to improve glycemic control in diabetic patients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Humalog® 200 units/mL KwikPen® (insulin lispro 200 units/mL; U-200), a pre-filled pen containing a concentrated formulation of Lilly's rapid-acting insulin Humalog® (insulin lispro 100 units/mL) to improve glycemic control in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, Eli Lilly and Company announced today. Humalog U-200 KwikPen marks the first FDA approval of a concentrated mealtime insulin analog.

29 May 2015

Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention at higher risk for sleep apnea

Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a coronary artery widening procedureused to treat heart disease, are at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to new research presented at the 2015 American Thoracic Society International Conference.

19 May 2015

New study shows safe levels of exercise differ for men and women with Atrial Firbrillation

Data from nearly 380,000 patients presented at Heart Rhythm 2015 reveals that moderate exercise is beneficial, yet vigorous exercise can increase the risk of AF for men

15 May 2015

Study finds botulinum toxin injections in epicardial fat pads reduce AF risk immediately following surgery and after one year of follow-up

AF is the most common arrhythmia complicating cardiac surgery and occurs in approximately 30-40 percent of patients undergoing CABG surgery...

15 May 2015

Recent CE Mark approvals expand St. Jude Medical’s MRI-compatible device portfolio in Europe

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, today announced CE Mark approval of expanded labelling for its Ellipse implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), in addition to its Durata and Optisure defibrillation leads, allowing existing or future patients with these technologies to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans without compromising device performance.

14 May 2015

Preventice Solutions announces commercial availability of BodyGuardian Heart and PatientCare Platform

Preventice Solutions announced today that BodyGuardian Heart Remote Patient Monitoring System and PatientCare platform will be commercially available in Q3, 2015. Testing with the BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System is underway nationally to ensure ongoing improvements and care team efficiency.

11 May 2015

Young age and small body weight predispose pediatric CHD patients toward re-intervention

A retrospective review of 633 adults and children who underwent bioprosthetic pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) for congenital heart disease between 1996 and 2014 indicated that the risk of re-intervention was five times greater for children than adults, with the likelihood of re-intervention decreasing by 10% for each increasing year of age at surgery.

29 Apr 2015

CPAP use reduces atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

The use of continuous positive airway pressure was associated with a significant reduction in the recurrence of atrial fibrillation in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, according to an analysis of data from past research published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Clinical Electrophysiology.

21 Apr 2015

Study sheds light on the physical causes of sudden death

Sudden cardiac death accounts for approximately 10% of natural deaths, most of which are due to ventricular fibrillation. Each year it causes 300,000 deaths in the United States and 20,000 in Spain.

17 Apr 2015

Adapting new method to judge dementia perceptions can help improve care for south Asian people

Dementia care for south Asian people could be improved after researchers from The University of Manchester adapted a commonly used tool for judging perceptions of the disease.

17 Apr 2015

Study looks at dabigatran adherence across Veterans Health Administration sites

Among patients with atrial fibrillation who filled prescriptions for the anticoagulant dabigatran at Veterans Health Administration sites, there was variability in patient medication adherence across sites, with appropriate patient selection and pharmacist-led monitoring associated with greater adherence to the medication, according to a study in the April 14 issue of JAMA.

16 Apr 2015

Newly approved drug for rare blood cancer shows sustained benefit for 2 years

The most recent results from a clinical trial show that ibrutinib, a newly approved drug for Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia, continued to control the rare blood cancer, with 95 percent of patients surviving for two years, report investigators from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

10 Apr 2015

CUMC researchers identify cellular defect that could lead to potential new treatment for diabetes

A cellular defect that can impair the body's ability to handle high glucose levels and could point the way to a potential new treatment for diabetes has been identified by Columbia University Medical Center researchers.

8 Apr 2015

Study assesses factors that lead to inaccurate detection of frequency, duration of AF episodes

A new study shows how specific factors such as gender, age and mood disorders like anxiety and depression can lead patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) to inaccurately assess their heart rhythm.

2 Apr 2015

MHIF investigator performs first atrial fibrillation ablation in U.S. using SMARTTOUCH SF catheter

Dr. Daniel Melby, an investigator at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, performed the first atrial fibrillation ablation in the U.S. using Biosense Webster's new THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF contact force sensing catheter as part of an FDA regulated safety trial (SMART-SF).

1 Apr 2015

Penn surgeons develop new tools to identify joint replacement patients at risk for serious complications

Orthopedic surgeons from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have developed two new prediction tools aimed at identifying total hip and knee replacement patients who are at-risk of developing serious complications after surgery.

30 Mar 2015

Boston Scientific announces successful implantations of WATCHMAN Device in three US patients

This week, three patients in the United States received the first implants of the Boston Scientific Corporation WATCHMAN™ Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) Device.

25 Mar 2015

Catheter ablation more beneficial to heart failure patients than Amiodarone treatment

Among patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation, those who underwent catheter ablation were less likely to die, be hospitalized or have recurrent atrial fibrillation than patients taking a heart rhythm regulating drug, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's 64th Annual Scientific Session.

19 Mar 2015