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.

Experts to discuss use of holograms and 3D printing at EuroEcho-Imaging 2016

EuroEcho-Imaging 2016 brings advanced techniques to the bedside with international experts set to discuss the use of holograms and 3D printing to guide interventions.

7 Nov 2016

Inhealthcare launches new mobile app to help NHS patients monitor, manage long-term conditions

Digital health specialist Inhealthcare has launched a new mobile app to help NHS patients track, monitor and manage long-term conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

From Inhealthcare Limited 4 Nov 2016

Shape of blood flow in heart's upper left chamber may help predict stroke risk

Using specialized CT scans of a healthy heart and one with heart disease, a team of Johns Hopkins cardiologists and biomedical engineers say they've created computer models of the "shape" of blood flow through the heart's upper left chamber that someday may help predict stroke risk.

2 Nov 2016

Experts meet at Hyderabad for four-day World Stroke Congress

Stroke is devastating. Everyone can have a stroke. For many people, the stroke happens suddenly and without warning. According to Stroke Association, when it happens, there is a little time to prepare. It can affect how one moves, feels and thinks.

31 Oct 2016

Study provides insight into available treatments for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation patients

A recent study from University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers published in PLOS ONE compares different available treatments for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

26 Oct 2016

Researchers develop new 4D flow imaging technique that helps predict stroke risk

Affecting 33.5 million patients worldwide, atrial fibrillation is the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia. As if having an irregular heart beat wasn't troubling enough, patients with atrial fibrillation are also much more likely to have a stroke.

7 Oct 2016

Siemens announces FDA 510(k) clearance for Xprecia Stride Coagulation Analyzer

Siemens Healthineers has more than 30 years of central lab hemostasis leadership. Building on to its portfolio, the company announced today FDA 510(k) clearance for a hand-held portable coagulation analyzer.

From Siemens Healthineers Point of Care Diagnostics 6 Oct 2016

NCDR provides data to study appropriate use of oral anticoagulant therapy

The American College of Cardiology's National Cardiovascular Data Registry was the source of data for research published throughout 2016, including a study examining if atrial fibrillation patients are being prescribed oral anticoagulants, how appropriate use criteria correlates to angioplasty rates and the variation among racial groups for revascularization procedures.

30 Sep 2016

UHZ cardiologists use innovative catheter technology to repair tricuspid valve

A team led by Francesco Maisano, co-director of the University Heart Center at the University Hospital Zurich and professor for Heart Surgery at the University of Zurich, made up of heart surgeons and cardiologists used new catheter technology to repair a leaky tricuspid valve for the very first time.

26 Sep 2016

Inhealthcare introduces first self-testing mobile app for warfarin users

Digital health specialist Inhealthcare is bringing to market the first self-testing mobile app for warfarin users that connects directly to doctors.

From Inhealthcare Limited 21 Sep 2016

VTT researchers develop new mobile device that helps prevent cerebral infarctions

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed a mobile app and thumb-size device that help to prevent cerebral infarctions at an early stage, during asymptomatic atrial fibrillation.

19 Sep 2016

Virgo Health’s egg innovation hub unveils two digital products, PRODIGI and TRIAL360

Virgo Health has marked the official launch of its healthcare innovation hub, egg, with its first two proprietary white-label products, PRODIGI and TRIAL360.

15 Sep 2016

Clinical review of patients with atrial fibrillation prevents hundreds of strokes, saves NHS millions of pounds

A review of 135,000 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) at more than a 1,000 GP practices led to over 25,000 medical interventions, which is believed to have prevented hundreds of strokes and saved the NHS millions of pounds.

13 Sep 2016

New protocol may decrease occurrence of POAF in heart patients

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a condition in which the upper chambers of the heart contract in a way that's out of sync with the lower chambers, causing an irregular heartbeat and poor blood flow to the body.

7 Sep 2016

New Focused Update to CCS atrial fibrillation guidelines released

The Canadian Journal of Cardiology has just released the 2016 Focused Update to the Canadian Cardiovascular Society's atrial fibrillation (AF) guidelines.

6 Sep 2016

ACC joins with Google to create “Ask a Doctor" to provide in-depth information about heart conditions

A Google search for heart conditions will now prominently display important questions patients should ask their doctor based on clinical guidelines developed by the American College of Cardiology.

31 Aug 2016

New research sheds light on underlying genetic basis of heart arrhythmias

In the August 31 issue of Science Translational Medicine, new research from the University of Chicago shows how deficits in a specific pathway of genes can lead to the development of atrial fibrillation, a common irregular heartbeat, which poses a significant health risk.

31 Aug 2016

New anticoagulant treatment safe and effective for AF patients before cardioversion

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who need anticoagulation before undergoing electrical correction of their abnormal heartbeat (cardioversion) may benefit from treatment with edoxoban - a non-vitamin K antagonist (VKA) oral anticoagulant (NOAC), according to results of the ENSURE-AF trial.

30 Aug 2016

Alcohol-related hospitalisation linked to increased risk of ischaemic stroke in atrial fibrillation patients

Alcohol related hospitalisation is associated with a doubled risk of ischaemic stroke risk in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, according to a study presented at ESC Congress 2016 today by Dr Faris Al-Khalili, cardiologist, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

28 Aug 2016

New oral anticoagulants offer same stroke prevention, but cause less intracranial bleeding than warfarin

The new oral anticoagulants provide the same stroke prevention as warfarin but cause less intracranial bleeding, reports an observational study in more than 43 000 patients presented at ESC Congress 2016 today by Dr Laila Staerk, a research fellow at Herlev and Gentofte University Hospital, Denmark.