Health UK (Commonwealth Union) – Atrial fibrillation is a common and potentially serious heart condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by irregular and often rapid heartbeats, which can lead to a range of health complications, including stroke and heart failure. The condition is a heart rhythm disorder that originates in the atria, the upper chambers of the heart. In a normal, healthy heart, electrical signals regulate the heartbeat, causing the atria to contract followed by the ventricles. In atrial fibrillation, these electrical signals become chaotic, leading to irregular and rapid contractions of the atria. This results in an irregular and often rapid pulse.
Scientists from the University of East Anglia have pioneered a novel approach for pinpointing individuals susceptible to an irregular heartbeat condition known as ‘atrial fibrillation.’
While not typically life-threatening, this condition heightens the likelihood of experiencing a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or stroke by a factor of up to five.
In a recent study, disclosed today, the research highlights 4 specific factors that can serve as indicators for predicting which patients may develop atrial fibrillation. These factors encompass advancing age, elevated diastolic blood pressure, as well as complications related to both the coordination and functionality of the upper left chamber of the heart.
The research team subsequently devised a user-friendly tool for medical practitioners to employ in their daily practice to identify individuals at elevated risk.
Their aspiration is that this tool will facilitate the early diagnosis and treatment of more patients, consequently mitigating their risk of future stroke incidents.
Lead investigator Professor Vassilios Vassiliou, affiliated with UEA’s Norwich Medical School and serving as an Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, emphasized the significance of identifying individuals at high risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
“This is because it requires specific treatment with anticoagulants, commonly known as blood thinners, to reduce the risk of future strokes.
“Patients who have had a stroke usually undergo multiple investigations to determine the cause of the stroke, as this can influence the treatment they receive long-term.
“These investigations include prolonged monitoring of the heart rhythm with a small implantable device called a loop recorder, and an ultrasound of the heart, called an echocardiogram.”
The research team amassed data from 323 patients residing in the East of England, who had received treatment at the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. These patients had experienced a stroke with an unidentified cause, referred to as Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source.
Their approach involved a meticulous analysis of medical records, prolonged heart rhythm monitoring data, and thorough scrutiny of echocardiograms.
Professor Vassiliou pointed out that they examined how many of these patients were subsequently diagnosed with atrial fibrillation within three years of their stroke. They conducted an extensive assessment to identify specific parameters associated with the identification of atrial fibrillation.”
The study uncovered four parameters consistently linked to the development of atrial fibrillation in patients who experienced this arrhythmia.
A predictive model was devised that can be easily employed by any medical practitioner in clinical practice, according Professor Vassiliou. This tool has the potential to assist doctors in delivering more targeted and effective treatment to these patients. Its aim is to identify individuals at a heightened risk of this arrhythmia, allowing for prolonged heart rhythm monitoring and earlier administration of anticoagulation to prevent future strokes.
This collaborative research was spearheaded by the University of East Anglia in conjunction with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Cambridge, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and the University of Newcastle.
The findings of this study have been published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology and were simultaneously presented at the European Society of Cardiology in Amsterdam.
