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.

Researchers uncover four microRNAs as potential biomarkers for atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a heart condition that causes an irregular, and often rapid, heart rate. It increases the risk of developing strokes, heart failure, and even dementia. Although it can be associated with aging, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart valve problems, etc, about one-third of patients with AF have no symptoms until they suffer a stroke.

16 Mar 2018

Biosense Webster enrolls and treats first AF patient in clinical study of new RF balloon catheter

Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies announced today that Biosense Webster, Inc., a worldwide leader in the diagnosis and treatment of heart arrhythmias, enrolled and treated the first patient in its SHINE clinical study in Europe.

From Johnson & Johnson 15 Mar 2018

U.S. IDE study of THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF Catheter completes patient enrollment

Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies announced today that Biosense Webster, Inc., a worldwide leader in the diagnosis and treatment of heart arrhythmias, has completed patient enrollment in its U.S. Investigational Device Exemption study of the THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF Catheter.

14 Mar 2018

International research consortium identifies 22 new genetic risk factors for stroke

An international research consortium studying 520,000 individuals from around the world has identified 22 new genetic risk factors for stroke, thus tripling the number of gene regions known to affect stroke risk.

13 Mar 2018

Self-adhering chest patch may better detect common heart rhythm disorder than usual care

For people at heightened risk for atrial fibrillation —a common heart rhythm disorder that also carries a high risk of stroke—wearing a self-adhering chest patch that records heart patterns may better detect the condition and facilitate more timely treatment than relying on usual care, according to one-year data being presented at the American College of Cardiology's 67th Annual Scientific Session.

12 Mar 2018

Multiple neuropsychiatric diseases may play greater role in functional decline in older people

Multiple neuropsychiatric diseases are major predisposing factors for functional decline in older people and may play a greater role in this age-related phenomenon than cardiovascular diseases, according to a new study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet published in PLOS Medicine.

8 Mar 2018

Research shows link between fluoroquinolone antibiotics and increased risk of aortic disease

New research from a Swedish and Danish team of researchers led from Karolinska Institutet lend additional support to a link between treatment with fluoroquinolone antibiotics and an increased risk of acute aortic disease. The study is published in the esteemed journal The BMJ.

8 Mar 2018

Football linked to changes in cardiac structure and greater risk of heart rhythm disorders

Football players show structural changes in the heart and face an elevated risk of heart rhythm disorders later in life, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 67th Annual Scientific Session.

28 Feb 2018

Aspirin appears to reduce risk of death, hospitalization for people with heart failure and diabetes

For people living with both Type 2 diabetes and heart failure, taking an aspirin each day appears to lower the risk of dying or being hospitalized for heart failure, according to research being presented at the American College of Cardiology's 67th Annual Scientific Session.

28 Feb 2018

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patient maintains active lifestyle while minimizing risk

A group of cardiologists is changing the conversation about a form of heart disease and exercise. One patient details how she's maintaining an active lifestyle while minimizing risk.

24 Feb 2018

Annual foot screening could help spot heart irregularities in people with diabetes

This National Heart Month (February) leading podiatrists across the North East are calling for people with diabetes to go for their annual footcheck, as findings show it could prevent the risk of stroke.

24 Feb 2018

Non-adherence to sleep apnea treatment linked to increased hospital readmissions

A study of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) suggests that non-adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is significantly associated with increased 30-day hospital readmissions.

22 Feb 2018

Study finds higher risk of stroke among blacks with atrial fibrillation than whites

Blacks have a higher incidence of stroke and stroke-associated disability than whites. However, few studies have evaluated racial differences in stroke before a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF).

20 Feb 2018

Pfizer to use BC Platforms’ technology solutions to analyze data in cardiovascular diseases

BC Platforms, a world leader in genomic data management and analytics, today announces that Pfizer Finland will be using its technology solutions and research platform, including BCRQUEST.COM, to study data in cardiovascular diseases.

14 Feb 2018

New biomarker may indicate success of popular treatment for atrial fibrillation

Johns Hopkins researchers report successful use of heart imaging to predict the benefit or futility of catheter ablation, an increasingly popular way to treat atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder.

12 Feb 2018

People who survive childhood heart defects may be at elevated risk of developing dementia

People born with heart defects who survive into adulthood may be at higher risk of developing dementia, particularly dementia that starts before 65 years of age, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.

12 Feb 2018

Study reveals rising burden of atrial fibrillation among Asian patients

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent sustained cardiac arrhythmia, and its prevalence is projected to rise continuously over the next few decades because of an aging population.

5 Feb 2018

1 in 7 patients at risk for persistent opioid use after lung surgery

While the use of opioids after surgery is intended as a short-term strategy to relieve pain, many patients who weren't prior opioid users continue to take the medication for several months after their lung operations, becoming dependent and "persistent opioid users," according to research presented today at the 54th Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

30 Jan 2018

Study finds higher risks for asymptomatic paroxysmal AF patients

Atrial fibrillation (AF) can often be asymptomatic, leading to difficulties in diagnosis and untreated risks for morbidity and mortality.

18 Jan 2018

New study enrolls first patient to evaluate potential of WaveCrest LAAO System

Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies today announced that Biosense Webster, Inc., a worldwide leader in the diagnosis and treatment of heart arrhythmias, enrolled the first patient in the WaveCrest Investigational Device Exemption Trial.

16 Jan 2018