Category list : Atrial fibrillation

Pharmacist-led atrial fibrillation case finding programme prevents an estimated 90 strokes Subscription

A pharmacist-led programme to identify patients with atrial fibrillation may have prevented up to 90 AF-related strokes across 23 clinical commissioning group areas, NHS England has said.

Charity expresses patient safety concerns over draft atrial fibrillation guidance from NICE Subscription

A UK charity has expressed patient safety concerns over draft guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on the management of atrial fibrillation.

Increased anticoagulation is reducing the rate of stroke and saving nearly £300 per patient treated, study suggests Subscription

The NHS is saving nearly £300 per patient on oral anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation, despite rising prescription costs for the medicine, owing to a decline in AF-related strokes.

Pharmacists could screen patients for AF during flu vaccination appointments, study suggests Subscription

Screening for atrial fibrillation could be carried out during flu vaccination appointments to increase early detection rates, a feasibility study has suggested.

Apixaban may be more effective and safer than rivaroxaban, research suggests Subscription

Adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation prescribed apixaban have a lower rate of ischaemic stroke and systemic blood clots compared with those prescribed rivaroxaban, according to a retrospective cohort study in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Lower-GI bleeding should be investigated in anticoagulated patients, researchers say Subscription

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation who are being treated with oral anticoagulants is associated with a higher risk of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer, a study published in the European Heart Journal suggests.

Apixaban safer than warfarin for patients regardless of stroke history Subscription

Apixaban is associated with less major bleeding, death and hospitalisation than warfarin, regardless of a patient’s stroke history, a secondary analysis of the AUGUSTUS trial has indicated.

Patients taking anticoagulants feel excluded from therapy decisions Subscription

Patients with atrial fibrillation report several negative experiences associated with changes to their anticoagulation therapy — something that shared decision-making and patient education could help to address, research has suggested.

Forgotten patients: thousands left on risky anticoagulant combinations Subscription

Combinations of drugs involving anticoagulants are one of the most frequent causes of medicine-related hospital admissions, but pharmacists can help reduce the risk.

Pharmacists to identify AF patients at risk of stroke in £9m NHS England programme Subscription

Specialist pharmacists across 23 areas in England will help to identify patients with atrial fibrillation who are at risk of stroke and could benefit from medication, under a £9m programme announced by NHS England.

Depression linked to atrial fibrillation diagnosis Subscription

Depression is associated with an increased likelihood of atrial fibrillation diagnosis, according to a study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

Sleep disruption linked to atrial fibrillation risk Subscription

Sleep disruption is an important risk factor for developing atrial fibrillation, study results show.

Pharmacists in a multidisciplinary atrial fibrillation clinic Subscription

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac rhythm disturbance and increases in prevalence with advancing age. Each year, Tallaght University Hospital in Dublin assesses and admits over 400 patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack. AF is implicated as a causative factor in 33% of these cases. An AF-related stroke is more likely to be fatal, disabling and recurrent than a non-AF related stroke. The risk of AF-related stroke is greatly reduced, however, by early detection ...

Anticoagulant prescribing for AF patients with high stroke risk more than doubles Subscription

GP prescribing of anticoagulants for the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation and a high risk of stroke more than doubled between 2000 and 2016, from 35.4% to 75.5%, according to research published in July 2018.

Uncertainty over anticoagulation risks and benefits in CKD patients with AF Subscription

The risk of both stroke and haemorrhage increases as chronic kidney disease progresses, which can complicate the decision on whether to begin anticoagulation in those with concomitant atrial fibrillation.

Primary-care overprescribing of rivaroxaban in patients without atrial fibrillation Subscription

There is a national prescribing trend for rivaroxaban (Xarelto; Bayer), one of four drugs known as direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), and prescription is steadily rising. The drug has six licensed indications, with four different dosages and at least five possible durations of therapy, depending on the condition being treated. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some patients have inadvertently remained on rivaroxaban in the long term in cases where the drug had been indicated for only ...

Anticoagulants could cut the risk of dementia for patients with atrial fibrillation, researchers find

Oral anticoagulants are associated with a significant reduction in the risk of dementia in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published in the European Heart Journal.

Pharmacists screening for AF in hi-tech partnership

Pharmacists are to use hand-held devices to test patients for atrial fibrillation (AF) as part of a hi-tech partnership in London.

Intracranial haemorrhage risk of warfarin unrelated to INR control Subscription

Study results show that choosing apixaban over warfarin could reduce the risk of anticoagulation-related intracranial haemorrhage.

Dagibatran carries reduced fracture risk compared with warfarin Subscription

Among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, study data show the use of dabigatran rather than warfarin was associated with a lower risk of osteoporotic fracture.

Atrial fibrillation patients not receiving guideline-recommended drugs to reduce stroke risk Subscription

Retrospective data analysis results show that the 16% of patients who were given anticoagulant prior to stroke showed reduction in stroke severity, lower odds of mortality and better functional outcomes.

Pharmacist-led atrial fibrillation reviews reduce stroke risk for patients Subscription

A review scheme led by a team of pharmacists prevented an estimated 886 strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation.

New oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation Subscription

Around 12,500 strokes are caused by atrial fibrillation (AF) in the UK each year, and 7,100 of these are preventable with appropriate anticoagulation. Four new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are now available in the UK in addition to warfarin.

'Don’t wait to anticoagulate' project Subscription

I was interested to read the news story ‘Many atrial fibrillation patients at risk of stroke treated with aspirin over anticoagulants’ (The Pharmaceutical Journal online, 24 June 2016), which outlines the finding that significant numbers of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are not being prescribed the most effective form of ...

Meet the regional finalists of I Love My Pharmacist: Northern England Subscription

The public has until 21 July 2016 to vote for their favourite regional finalist of the 2016 I Love My Pharmacist Award. The pharmacist with the highest number of votes in each region will then meet with the judging panel who will decide the 2016 champion.

Well-managed warfarin still useful for stroke prevention Subscription

A study of 40,000 patients with atrial fibrillation suggests that warfarin is a valid treatment for stroke prevention.

Statins improve outcomes of heart surgery Subscription

Use of atorvastatin and simvastatin is associated with improved post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Anticoagulant antidote idarucizumab gets European regulator’s initial approval Subscription

Idarucizumab (Praxbind), a unique drug that can neutralise the effect of anticoagulant dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa), has been recommended for marketing authorisation by the European medicines safety watchdog.

Rapid uptake of new oral anticoagulants in the United States Subscription

More patients with atrial fibrillation are being protected against blood clots after the introduction of new direct oral anticoagulant drugs.

Meta-analysis confirms patients treated with digoxin are at increased risk of death Subscription

Patients taking the heart failure drug digoxin are at an increased risk of death, according to the largest meta-analysis of its kind, published in the European Heart Journal.

EMA recommends edoxaban for prevention of stroke in atrial fibrillation Subscription

The European Medicines Agency is recommending that edoxaban be made available for the prevention of stroke in atrial fibrillation and the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism.

Atrial fibrillation learning@lunch programme Subscription

The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) has launched a new learning@lunch programme to help the pharmacy team and other healthcare professionals advance their knowledge and skills in the diagnosis, classification and management of atrial fibrillation. The programme is free for pharmacy professionals registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council and is available from the CPPE ...

Atrial fibrillation learning module Subscription

The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) has published a learning module on the management of atrial fibrillation that helps pharmacists and other healthcare professionals provide a personalised package of care for patients. The three-hour module is free for most NHS employees and is £15 otherwise. It is called ‘Atrial fibrillation: applying a patient-centred approach’ and ...

Stroke campaigns focus on helping patients reduce risks Subscription

Community pharmacists in Wales are warning patients that high blood pressure, irregular heart beat or atrial fibrillation can increase their risk of stroke.

Top 10 learning articles of 2014 from The Pharmaceutical Journal

Our response to the Ebola outbreak is a sign of how our learning content is changing to meet your needs.

Disappointing results for fish oil in atrial fibrillation trial Subscription

Study suggests high doses of fish oil supplements do not reduce atrial fibrillation, a common type of irregular heartbeat.

Patients taking warfarin should self-monitor their coagulation status, says NICE Subscription

NICE recommends two point-of-care coagulometers for use by patients – Roche Diagnostic’s CoaguChek XS system and Alere’s INRatio2 PT/INR monitor.

Atrial fibrillation guideline updates Subscription

How the latest clinical guidelines change the management of a cardiac arrhythmia affecting 1% of adults in the UK.

NICE recommends apixaban, dabigatran and rivaroxaban over aspirin for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation

NICE concludes that aspirin is not an effective stroke prevention therapy for atrial fibrillation patients

Dutch research links atrial fibrillation risk to current or recent use of NSAIDs

Current or recent use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF), suggest long-term follow-up data from the Rotterdam Study published in BMJ Open.

Warfarin for atrial fibrillation tied to better outcomes irrespective of kidney function

Warfarin anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a reduced risk of death, heart attack and stroke and no increase in bleeding in people with chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease

Consultation: Atrial fibrillation

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published a draft update to its guideline on the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation. The guideline is available for consultation on the NICE website until 26 February 2014.

Device that detects atrial fibrillation endorsed by NICE Subscription

A device that can detect atrial fibrillation (AF) while blood pressure is being measured, WatchBP Home A, has been recommended for NHS use by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Digoxin use for atrial fibrillation questioned

By News team

Digoxin use in atrial fibrillation called into question Subscription

Warfarin bleeds in patients with atrial fibrillation more common than RCTs suggest Subscription

Rates of haemorrhage for patients with atrial fibrillation taking warfarin may be higher than previously thought, according to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal yesterday (26 November 2012).

Rivaroxaban approved by NICE for atrial fibrillation patients

Rivaroxaban has been endorsed for NHS use in England and Wales in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

NICE approves dabigatran for patients with atrial fibrillation

Dabigatran has been endorsed for NHS use in England and Wales for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Atrial fibrillation patients at high risk of stroke not prescribed warfarin

New anticoagulant reduces mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation

Apixaban, a factor Xa inhibitor, has more favourable rates of stroke or embolism than warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and reduces mortality, according to research published online in The New England Journal of Medicine (28 August 2011).