500,000 People Call for Urgent Action to Prevent Atrial Fibrillation-Related Strokes
500,000 People Call for Urgent Action to Prevent Atrial Fibrillation-Related Strokes
AsiaNet 54805
BERLIN, October 29/PRN=KYODO JBN/ --
- Atrial fibrillation is an under-diagnosed, undertreated abnormal heart rhythm
that increases stroke risk five-fold compared to the general population
World Stroke Day 2013
By World Stroke Day 2013 (October 29) more than 500,000 people have shown
their support for the Sign Against Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation campaign,
calling for urgent coordinated action to avoid the thousands of preventable
strokes that leave many atrial fibrillation (AF) patients disabled or dead
every year. Despite widespread fear of stroke and its devastating consequences,
many people are unaware of AF and its link to stroke, highlighting a critical
educational and medical challenge for policy makers and healthcare providers.
Every year, 15 million people worldwide experience a stroke. Approximately five
million of these suffer permanent disabilities and over five million more die,
accounting for 10% of all deaths worldwide[1]. Sign Against Stroke in Atrial
Fibrillation supports the world's only Global AF Patient Charter that calls for
more education to raise awareness of the signs of AF, driving earlier
diagnosis, and ensuring patients receive the appropriate care, so fewer
families suffer the devastation caused by an AF-related stroke.
Alarmingly, the first time many people will find out they have AF is when they
have a stroke, with these strokes being more severe, causing greater disability
and having a worse outcome than strokes in people without[2]. People who have a
stroke caused by AF are more likely to remain in hospital for longer, are less
likely to be discharged to their home and are 50% more likely to remain
disabled, relying on long-term care from their families or nursing homes[2].
Healthcare costs associated with stroke are higher for patients with AF than
for patients without AF, leading to a significant clinical and economic burden
on individuals and society, especially in an ever ageing population[3].
Preventing AF in patients at risk, diagnosing AF before the first stroke occurs
and following recommendations regarding the use of anticoagulation, including
consideration of new treatment options[4],[5], are critical for effective
prevention of up to 70%[6],[7],[8] of AF-related strokes.
"We urge people to visit http://www.signagainststroke.com and sign in support
of the Global AF Patient Charter. We are calling upon healthcare decision
makers to ensure AF is recognised as a serious risk factor for stroke, and that
concrete actions are defined in national plans that support earlier diagnosis
and improved awareness, education and prevention," said Mellanie True Hills,
Founder and CEO of StopAfib.org. "It is our hope that national governments will
address this as they plan for how to meet the United Nations' commitment to
reduce non-communicable diseases by 25% by the year 2025."
Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke - The Link
70 million people worldwide are affected by AF[4],[9]. The irregular heartbeat
of AF causes blood to pool and can result in the development of blood clots,
which may travel to the brain, triggering a major and often fatal stroke. AF is
age related, with those over 40 having a one in four chance of developing
it[10]. AF has no geographic, gender or socio-economic boundaries and increases
stroke risk by 500%[4], accounting for 15-20% of all ischaemic strokes (strokes
caused by blood clots)[11]. In addition, AF-related strokes are more severe
than other strokes, with a 50% likelihood of death within one year[2].
The impact of AF-related stroke is predicted to rise dramatically as the number
of individuals affected by AF is expected to increase 2.5 fold by 2050[12], due
to an ageing population and improved survival of patients with conditions which
predispose AF (e.g., heart attack).
Because More Than 500,000 Care about Preventing AF-Related Stroke
The theme of this year's World Stroke Day is "Because I care". By supporting
the Global AF Patient Charter, over 500,000 people and 101 patient
organisations, medical and other non-governmental organisations including the
World Stroke Organisation, have demonstrated they care and that action is
needed to prevent thousands of AF-related strokes each year.
About the Global AF Patient Charter and Sign Against Stroke Campaign
In a global call to action, 101 patient organisations, medical and other
non-governmental organisations from around the world have endorsed the Charter,
asking the public, healthcare professionals and policy makers to drive change
in AF diagnosis and care, preventing AF-related strokes. The goal of Sign
Against Stroke is to gather 1.7 million signatures in support of the Charter -
one for each of the estimated number of grandparents, mothers, fathers, aunts
and uncles killed or disabled by AF strokes every year - and provide those
signatures to healthcare decision makers in countries across the world.
Demonstrating strong support behind the Charter recommendations will help put
AF and AF-related stroke prevention at the forefront of national health agendas.
The Global AF Patient Charter was developed by a Steering Committee comprised
of representatives from Patient Organisations, including AntiCoagulation
Europe, Arrhythmia Alliance, Atrial Fibrillation Association, Irish Heart
Foundation, StopAfib.org and Stroke Alliance for Europe, in collaboration with
39 founding Patient Organisations from 20 countries. A full list of
collaborating organisations is available on the website,
http://www.signagainststroke.com.
People can learn about AF and stroke and read and sign the Charter, which is
available in 22 languages on the Campaign website,
http://www.signagainststroke.com. All signatures contribute to driving action
to prevent AF-related strokes and improving future outcomes and quality of life
of people diagnosed with AF.
Bayer HealthCare has proudly supported the Global AF Patient Charter and Sign
Against Stroke Campaign since its creation in 2011 and remains committed to
working together with all key stakeholders involved to help improve AF patient
outcomes.
References
1. The Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke. World Health Organisation.
http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/en/cvd_atlas_15_burden_stroke.pdf
Last accessed 28 October 2013.
2. Lin HJ et al. Stroke severity in atrial fibrillation.The Framingham Study.
Stroke 1996;27(10):1760-4.
3. Winter Y et al. Evaluation of costs and outcome in cardioembolic stroke or
TIA. J Neurol 2009;256:954-63.
4. Fuster V et al. 2011 ACCF/AHA/HRS focused updates incorporated into the
ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 guidelines for the management of patients with atrial
fibrillation: a report of the American College of Cardiology
Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines.
Circulation 2011;123(10):e269-367.
5. Camm AJ et al. 2012 focused update of the ESC Guidelines for the management
of atrial fibrillation. Eur Heart J 2012;33:2719-47.
6. Patel MR et al. Rivaroxaban versus Warfarin in Nonvalvular Atrial
Fibrillation. N Engl J Med 2011;365:883-91.
7. Connolly SJ et al. Dabigatran versus Warfarin in Patients with Atrial
Fibrillation. N Engl J Med 2009;361:1139-51.
8. Granger CB et al. Apixaban versus Warfarin in Patients with Atrial
Fibrillation. N Engl J Med 2011;365:981-92.
9. Miyasaka Y et al. Secular Trends in Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation in
Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1980 to 2000, and Implications on the Projections
for Future Prevalence. Circulation. 2006;114:119-25.
10. Lloyd-Jones DM et al. Lifetime risk for development of atrial fibrillation:
the Framingham Heart Study. Circulation 2004;110:1042-6.
11. Marini C et al. Contribution of atrial fibrillation to incidence and
outcome of ischemic stroke: results from a population-based study. Stroke.
2005;36:1115-19.
12. Go AS et al. Prevalence of diagnosed atrial fibrillation in adults:
national implications for rhythm management and stroke prevention: the
AnTicoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA) Study. JAMA.
2001;285:2370-5.
Source: Bayer Healthcare
本プレスリリースは発表元が入力した原稿をそのまま掲載しております。また、プレスリリースへのお問い合わせは発表元に直接お願いいたします。
このプレスリリースには、報道機関向けの情報があります。
プレス会員登録を行うと、広報担当者の連絡先や、イベント・記者会見の情報など、報道機関だけに公開する情報が閲覧できるようになります。