News
Subclinical Hyperthyroidism Linked To Higher Atrial Fibrillation And Coronary Heart Disease Risk
Wed, Apr 25th 2012
Medicalnewstoday.com
A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine reveals that subclinical hyperthyroidism (SCH) may be linked to a greater risk of total mortality, coronary heart disease (CHD) death, as well as incident atrial fibrillation (AF).
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Thyroid condition linked to heart problems: study
Wed, Apr 25th 2012
Medicalxpress.com
New evidence suggests that a type of overactive thyroid condition appears to boost the risk of heart problems, especially atrial fibrillation (a form of irregular heartbeat) and premature death.
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Stroke Risk High When Anti-Clotting Drugs Stopped
Wed, Apr 25th 2012
Pharmalive.com
Patients with irregular heartbeats who take anti-clotting medications are at high risk of stroke or blood clot whenever the drugs are stopped. The risks are similar whether patients are taking warfarin or a newer anti-clotting drug rivaroxaban.
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Risk High During Temporary Anticoagulant Halts
Wed, Apr 25th 2012
Dailyrx.com
Patients with certain types of atrial fibrillation, a common heart arrhythmia, are at a high risk of stroke and blood clots if they temporarily stop their blood thinning medication before surgery or permanently because of side effects.
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Dabigatran cuts ICH mortality vs warfarin
Tue, Apr 24th 2012
Theheart.org
Among patients stricken with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) while on oral anticoagulation for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), the stroke is no more likely to be fatal for those on dabigatran etexilate than for those taking warfarin, suggests an analysis from the Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulant Therapy trial.
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Pacemakers, Defibrillators Sources of Deadly Infections
Tue, Apr 24th 2012
Health.usnews.com
Life-saving implantable pacemakers or defibrillators pose a risk for developing deadly infections, a new study suggests.
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70 Patient and Professional Organisations from 39 Countries Launch Global Initiative to Help Prevent Atrial Fibrillation-related Strokes
Mon, Apr 23rd 2012
Marketwatch.com
Seventy patient and professional organisations from 39 countries united at the World Heart Federation's World Congress of Cardiology Scientific Sessions 2012, to launch a global Patient Charter and supporting the campaign, Sign Against Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation.
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Minimally Invasive Surgery Can Cure AFIB
Mon, Apr 23rd 2012
Healthystate.org
A new minimally invasive heart surgery for atrial fibrillation is sending people home – up and about, walking after a one-night hospital stay – on their way to being AFIB-free.
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Thyroid Condition Linked to Heart Problems
Mon, Apr 23rd 2012
Health.usnews.com
New evidence suggests that a type of overactive thyroid condition appears to boost the risk of heart problems, especially atrial fibrillation (a form of irregular heartbeat) and premature death.
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Dabi cost-effective in U.K. analysis
Mon, Apr 23rd 2012
Cardiovascularbusiness.com
Dabigatran, like other novel drugs, has upped the ante for the anticoagulant market due its ability to prevent stroke in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients without the need for continuous monitoring, like warfarin. However, while dabigatran has become a hit with some clinicians, many wonder whether the drug’s use is cost-effective.
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Awareness is first step toward prevention
Sat, Apr 21st 2012
Vancouversun.com
It is estimated that greater than 80 per cent of men and women over age 50 have arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries with cholesterol containing plaque). Up to 50 per cent of women and 35 per cent of men will eventually die of heart disease.
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Taking statins before heart op reduces AF risk
Sat, Apr 21st 2012
Nursingtimes.net
Patients taking statins before heart surgery are at less risk of post-operative atrial fibrillation and have shorter stays in hospital, according to a Cochrane review.
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Spotting Atrial Fibrillation (A-fib): Symptoms to Watch for and What to Do
Fri, Apr 20th 2012
Health.msn.com
Worried that you or your loved one may be suffering from symptoms of atrial fibrillation? It's a reasonable concern: An estimated 3 million Americans have this common heart condition.
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Alarm raised as irregular heartbeats go unchecked
Fri, Apr 20th 2012
Gulfnews.com
A Patient Charter launched Thursday at the World Congress of Cardiology plans to get 1.7 million signatures to make irregular heartbeats a high priority for governments."We are the patients' voice," said Trudie Lobban, director of the Atrial Fibrillation Association.
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F Registry Program investigating use of antithrombotic therapy in 56,000 patients with atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke announced
Fri, Apr 20th 2012
Eon.businesswire.com
A pharmacuetical company announced today the launch of the AF Registry Program, which is set to become the largest worldwide registry with the aim of understanding the long-term use of oral antithrombotic therapy in the prevention of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF)-related stroke in a real-world setting.
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Leading medical and patient organisations join forces to improve stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation
Thu, Apr 19th 2012
Ameinfo.com and pharmabiz.com
1 Mission 1 Million - Getting to the Heart of Stroke announces plans to launch an exciting new phase of the initiative. Campaign sponsor Boehringer Ingelheim, in collaboration with AntiCoagulation Europe (ACE), the Atrial Fibrillation Association (AFA), the Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE) and the World Heart Federation (WHF), will continue to raise awareness of atrial fibrillation (AF) and its link to stroke, working hard to improve management of this condition.
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Phama company's study shows safety benefits of dabigatran
Thu, Apr 19th 2012
Zenopa.com
A pharmaceutical company has published new clinical data that demonstrates the safety benefits provided by its atrial fibrillation therapy dabigatran.
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Global AF Patient Charter launched
Wed, Apr 18th 2012
Atrialfibrillation.org.uk
Atrial Fibrillation Association have launched the Global AF Charter at the World Heart Federation, World Congress of Cardiology Scientific Sessions in Dubai, to address the devastating affects of undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) and AF- related strokes.
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New sub-analysis evaluates outcomes associated with lower intracranial hemorrhage rates for dabigatran versus warfarin in trial
Wed, Apr 18th 2012
Marketwatch.com
A new retrospective sub-analysis of the 18,113 patient RE-LY trial showed lower rates of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), including both fatal and traumatic ICH, for dabigatran capsules 150mg taken twice daily compared with warfarin.
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ESC issues position paper on new anticoagulants
Wed, Apr 18th 2012
Theheart.org
In a "position paper" on the new oral anticoagulants, a group of experts from the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Thrombosis are enthusiastic about the new agents in AF, but not so impressed with their use in ACS.
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Genetic testing for new warfarin patients
Wed, Apr 18th 2012
Sacbee.com
Genetic testing to determine a more accurate initial dosing of warfarin, a drug used to prevent blood clots, remains rare, but is often done for inappropriate patients, according to a new study by Prime Therapeutics (Prime), a leading pharmacy benefit manager (PBM).
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Under-Treated Heart Condition That Causes a 500 Percent Increase in the Risk of Stroke Unites Medical and Patient Communities
Wed, Apr 18th 2012
Marketwatch.com
The Global Atrial Fibrillation Patient Charter, endorsed by 68 medical and patient organisations from 39 countries, was launched today at the World Heart Federation's World Congress of Cardiology Scientific Sessions 2012.
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Preop Statins Helpful in Cardiac Surgery
Tue, Apr 17th 2012
Medpagetoday.com
In pooled results from 11 randomized trials, patients who received preoperative statins had a significantly lower rate of postoperative atrial fibrillation.
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NSAID Use Post MI Boosted A Fib and Stroke
Tue, Apr 17th 2012
Familypracticenews.com
Patients who received treatment with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug following a first-time myocardial infarction had a significantly increased rate of subsequent atrial fibrillation or stroke, based on data collected since 1997 from more than 88,000 Danish residents.
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How good is a percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (PLAAO)?
Tue, Apr 17th 2012
Heartzine.com
The British Medical Journal's HEART publication has released a very useful review by researchers in Denmark and Australia today on the topic of percutaneous atrial appendage occlusion for stroke prevention, specifically in patients with atrial fibrillation.
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Global medical device company to boost safety monitoring of devices
Mon, Apr 16th 2012
Uk.reuters.com
A global medical device company plans to ramp up monitoring of its medical devices after they are implanted in order to catch potential safety problems earlier, as the industry wrestles with some headline-grabbing recalls.
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Heart Facts: 7 Things You Never Knew
Sat, Apr 14th 2012
Bodyandhealth.canada.com
February was Heart Month but maintaining a healthy heart is important all year round. Here are seven interesting tidbits you may not have known about your heart: (1) clean teeth are good for your heart.
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AF patients admitted to the hospital on weekends have worse outcomes
Fri, Apr 13th 2012
Theheart.org
Atrial-fibrillation patients admitted on the weekend tend to stay in the hospital longer, are less likely to undergo cardioversion, and are more likely to die in the hospital than similar patients admitted during the week, a new study shows.
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Boston medical device company launches steerable sheath
Wed, Apr 11th 2012
Prnewswire.com
A Boston medical device manufacturing company this week launched a steerable sheath for use in a wide range of electrophysiology (EP) procedures, to facilitate the introduction and placement of diagnostic and therapeutic catheters within the heart.
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Mobile stroke unit cuts time to treatment
Wed, Apr 11th 2012
Theheart.org
Using a mobile stroke unit (MSU) equipped with a CT scanner, laboratory, and telemedicine connection cuts "door-to-needle" time in half, a new study shows.
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