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.

Overweight patients more likely to experience recurrent atrial fibrillation after ablation

Overweight patients with atrial fibrillation are more likely to experience a return of the heart rhythm disorder after a corrective procedure than those of normal weight, according to research presented at EHRA 2022, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology.

4 Apr 2022

New type of anti-clotting drug reduces bleeding incidents among patients with atrial fibrillation

A new type of anti-clotting drug caused fewer bleeding incidents among patients with atrial fibrillation than the commonly prescribed apixaban, according to results from a head-to-head comparison of the two.

4 Apr 2022

Extension study shows mavacamten’s efficacy and safety in treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Use of mavacamten, a novel cardiac myosin inhibitor, to treat people with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition that results in excess thickening of the heart muscle, resulted in continued benefits in patient quality of life and outcomes over an extended period of time, according to interim data from the EXPLORER-HCM extension study presented at the American College of Cardiology's 71st Annual Scientific Session.

3 Apr 2022

Leakage after left atrial appendage occlusion associated with higher risk of adverse events

Patients who had leakage to the left atrial appendage due to incomplete device sealing after left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) experienced more clotting and bleeding events within a year following their procedure compared with patients who had no leaking, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's 71st Annual Scientific Session.

3 Apr 2022

Smartwatch application can be used for atrial fibrillation screening

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) was confirmed in nearly 94% of people who were initially identified to have signs of the heart rhythm disorder by a smartwatch application and who followed up with a clinician, in a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's 71st Annual Scientific Session.

3 Apr 2022

First practical guide on the use of digital devices for heart rhythm and rate monitoring published

Who should monitor their heart rate and rhythm and which device should they use? Find out in an international consensus document published today in EP Europace, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and presented at EHRA 2022, a scientific congress of the ESC.

3 Apr 2022

'Stroke-heart syndrome' may put stroke survivors at higher risk for future cardiovascular events

People who survive an ischemic stroke are much more likely to develop major heart complications during the first month after their stroke, and, as a result, they also have an increased risk of death, heart attack or another stroke within five years, compared to people who don't develop heart problems soon after a stroke, according to new research published today in Stroke, the peer-reviewed, flagship journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association.

31 Mar 2022

Clinical algorithm distinguishes between untreatable and treatable form of sudden cardiac arrest

Clinician-scientists in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai developed a clinical algorithm that, for the first time, distinguishes between treatable sudden cardiac arrest and untreatable forms of the condition.

31 Mar 2022

Dementia risk is high for people with atrial fibrillation, shows research

For people with atrial fibrillation, one of our most common cardiac disorders, dementia risk is elevated. This is shown by a University of Gothenburg thesis based on research at population level.

30 Mar 2022

Remote cognitive assessment could help track brain health in patients with cardiovascular risk

A new study is the first to show that a remote cognitive assessment could help with tracking patients with cardiovascular risk.

28 Mar 2022

Study provides insights on how risk factors following ICH stroke can affect patient outcomes

A new study led by University of Cincinnati researchers provides new insights on how different risk factors following one of the most severe types of stroke can affect patient outcomes.

28 Mar 2022

Reduced kidney function caused by antithrombotic therapy can influence bleeding events

Antithrombotic therapy is prescribed to prevent thrombotic (blood clotting inside a blood vessel) events but the treatment also increases the likelihood of experiencing a bleeding event, which can be extremely serious if it occurs in a vital organ.

25 Mar 2022

Daily coffee intake associated with benefits to heart health

Drinking coffee-; particularly two to three cups a day-;is not only associated with a lower risk of heart disease and dangerous heart rhythms but also with living longer, according to studies being presented at the American College of Cardiology's 71st Annual Scientific Session.

24 Mar 2022

Study reveals how skin tone may affect the accuracy of heart data in wearables

Consumers are increasingly using smartwatches and other wearable devices to measure their heart rate and rhythm during exercise and for overall health monitoring.

23 Mar 2022

Visual ultrasound of the heart helps identify novel measures linked to a higher dementia risk

Published in JAMA, research from the University of Minnesota assessed if there is a link between heart health and dementia.

23 Mar 2022

Dyspnea or fatigue can lead to worse outcomes than chest pain for heart attack patients

Just 76% of heart attack patients with dyspnoea or fatigue as their main symptom are alive at one year compared to 94% of those with chest pain as the predominant feature.

19 Mar 2022

People with elevated blood pressure upon standing more likely to have risk for cardiovascular events

Among young and middle-aged adults with high blood pressure, a substantial rise in blood pressure upon standing may identify those with a higher risk of serious cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's peer-reviewed journal Hypertension.

17 Mar 2022

The effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on patients with a history of atrial fibrillation

In a new study, scientists have evaluated if atrial fibrillation could be regarded as a comorbidity in relation to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

15 Mar 2022

Handheld ECG devices could be efficiently deployed in point-of-care screening for atrial fibrillation

Point-of-care screening for atrial fibrillation (A-fib) using a new generation of handheld electrocardiogram (ECG) devices increased the rate of diagnosis in patients 85 and older, but failed to show similar results in those 65 and older, a study by Massachusetts General Hospital has found.

3 Mar 2022

Researchers explore possible use of stress reduction in atrial fibrillation management

Stress has been linked with poor health outcomes, though the exact mechanism remains poorly defined. Psychological stress is recognized as a contributing factor in atrial fibrillation (AFib), both in initiation and heightening of AFib.

23 Feb 2022

Atrial Fibrillation News and Research

Further Reading

Overweight patients more likely to experience recurrent atrial fibrillation after ablation

New type of anti-clotting drug reduces bleeding incidents among patients with atrial fibrillation

Extension study shows mavacamten’s efficacy and safety in treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Leakage after left atrial appendage occlusion associated with higher risk of adverse events

Smartwatch application can be used for atrial fibrillation screening

First practical guide on the use of digital devices for heart rhythm and rate monitoring published

'Stroke-heart syndrome' may put stroke survivors at higher risk for future cardiovascular events

Clinical algorithm distinguishes between untreatable and treatable form of sudden cardiac arrest

Dementia risk is high for people with atrial fibrillation, shows research

Remote cognitive assessment could help track brain health in patients with cardiovascular risk

Study provides insights on how risk factors following ICH stroke can affect patient outcomes

Reduced kidney function caused by antithrombotic therapy can influence bleeding events

Daily coffee intake associated with benefits to heart health

Study reveals how skin tone may affect the accuracy of heart data in wearables

Visual ultrasound of the heart helps identify novel measures linked to a higher dementia risk

Dyspnea or fatigue can lead to worse outcomes than chest pain for heart attack patients

People with elevated blood pressure upon standing more likely to have risk for cardiovascular events

The effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on patients with a history of atrial fibrillation

Handheld ECG devices could be efficiently deployed in point-of-care screening for atrial fibrillation

Researchers explore possible use of stress reduction in atrial fibrillation management

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