PR98671

SINGAPORE, Dec. 05, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

- A new report, including insights from international experts, reveals that

Atrial Fibrillation diagnosis is more challenging in women, needing a tailored

management approach

Biosense Webster, Inc., part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech[†], today announced

the release of a report 

(https://www.jnjmedtech.com/sites/default/files/2022-11/Atrial Fibrillation in

Women_White Paper_FINAL.pdf ) titled, 'Atrial Fibrillation Exacts Toll on

Women: Addressing the Gender Disparity in the Treatment and Management of

Atrial Fibrillation in the Asia-Pacific Region'.

Endorsed by the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS), the report brings

together a panel of experts from various geographic locations including

Australia, China, Japan, and Singapore, among others to address the unique

features of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) in women and provide recommendations for

improving its management across the region.

AFib is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia and impacts nearly 40

million people worldwide.[1] It is a progressive disease, and if left

untreated, can get worse over time, or lead to other serious complications like

heart disease or stroke.[2],[3] Across Asia Pacific (APAC), the prevalence of

AFib has increased in recent decades, with AFib-related hospitalizations on the

rise. By 2050, it is estimated that 49 million men and 23 million women in the

region will carry a diagnosis of AFib.[4] Given the rapid increase in the

number of older populations in the region, the number of women with AFib is

expected to rise sharply and exert a significant societal and economic burden

on the population.

Key insights from the report

- 100% of the experts who contributed to the report have observed sex-related

differences in the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management approaches for AFib

-- Women often present with AFib at a later age with more comorbidities than

men and with more severe symptoms that can often be atypical. Women also have a

higher risk of stroke and mortality from AFib and are more likely to have a

pacemaker implant than men.

-- A combination of atypical symptoms, low awareness of AFib, and low

accessibility to AFib screening tools make it challenging to diagnose women

with AFib accurately.

-- Women are less likely than men to be offered rhythm control treatments

including anti-arrhythmic drugs, electrical cardioversions, and catheter

ablation.

- 71% of the experts felt that an accurate diagnosis and management of AFib is

more challenging in women

-- Women often present with atypical symptoms, such as weakness rather than

palpitations, which makes accurate diagnoses a challenge, and may only be

diagnosed with AFib subsequently upon further clinical workups.

-- Digital technologies used for enhanced screenings also pose challenges,

particularly in female patients. For example, the use of lotion among female

patients hinders the proper attachment of electrodes.

- 43% of the experts tailor their management approach to AFib based on the

patient's gender

-- It was highlighted that the innate pathology and biological differences,

such as thinner atrial walls and smaller body size of female patients could

also contribute to a higher risk of complications, further exacerbating the

complexities of managing these patients and the need to customize the approach.

Dr. Kelvin Chua, Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, National Heart

Centre, Singapore, and one of the contributors to the report said, "During our

discussion, we noted that many female patients present with atypical symptoms,

tend to be more averse to invasive treatment options, have a more prolonged

decision-making process and a tendency to de-prioritize their care. Given the

surmounting experiential evidence, there is a need to take a closer look to

improve our understanding of the gender-based disparity to improve the quality

of life of women with AFib."

Experts also agreed on the need for a holistic approach comprising

collaborative partnerships to drive improvements in clinical outcomes for women

with AFib. They further made recommendations for addressing the gender

disparity, some of which include:

- Increasing awareness of the risk factors and the importance of early

diagnosis and treatment of AFib

- Facilitating increased uptake and adherence to mHealth technologies among

older women

- Recommending equitable gender inclusion in major clinical trials to evaluate

gender-related differences

- Promoting improved understanding of gender-related disparities in AF

epidemiology, presentation, and clinical course among the population and

promoting tailored, context-specific strategies for women

Eisuke Yamamoto, Vice President, Cardiovascular and Specialty Solutions, APAC,

Johnson & Johnson MedTech said, "Enhancing the overall patient journey of women

with AFib needs a collaborative approach among all stakeholders. As the global

market leader in the science and technology behind the diagnosis and treatment

of cardiac arrhythmias, we are committed to driving better patient outcomes

through innovation, partnerships, and awareness. Towards this purpose, we hope

that the report serves as a driver to facilitate equity for all patients with

AFib, regardless of their gender."

About Biosense Webster

Biosense Webster is the global market leader in the science and technology

behind the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Part of Johnson &

Johnson MedTech, the specialized medical-technology company is headquartered in

Irvine, Calif., and works across the world to advance the tools and solutions

that help electrophysiologists identify, treat, and deliver care. Learn more at

www.biosensewebster.com and connect on

LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/biosense-webster/> and

Twitter<https://twitter.com/biosensewebster>.

About Johnson & Johnson MedTech

At Johnson & Johnson MedTech, we unleash diverse healthcare expertise,

purposeful technology, and a passion for people to transform the future of

medical intervention and empower everyone to live their best life possible. For

more than a century, we have driven breakthrough scientific innovation to

address unmet needs and reimagine health. In surgery, orthopaedics, vision, and

interventional solutions, we continue to help save lives and create a future

where healthcare solutions are smarter, less invasive, and more personalized.

For more information, visit https://www.jnjmedtech.com.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the

Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The reader is cautioned not

to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on

current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove

inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual

results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Biosense

Webster, Inc. any of the other Johnson & Johnson MedTech Companies and/or

Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

uncertainty of regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success;

challenges to patents; competition, including technological advances, new

products and patents attained by competitors; manufacturing difficulties and

delays; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or

regulatory action; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global

health care reforms; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of

health care products and services; and trends toward health care cost

containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and

other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K

for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022, including in the sections captioned

"Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk

Factors," and in the company's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form

10-Q, and the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange

Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov,

www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. Neither the Johnson & Johnson

MedTech nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking

statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

[†]The Johnson & Johnson MedTech Companies comprise the surgery, orthopaedics,

vision and interventional solutions businesses within Johnson & Johnson's

MedTech segment.

[1] Lippi G, Sanchis-Gomar F, Cervellin G. Global epidemiology of atrial

fibrillation: An increasing epidemic and public health challenge. Int J Stroke.

2021 Feb;16(2):217-221. doi: 10.1177/1747493019897870. Epub 2020 Jan 19.

Erratum in: Int J Stroke. 2020 Jan 28;:1747493020905964. PMID: 31955707.

[2] Hugh Calkins, Gerhard Hindricks, Ricardo Cappato, et al. 2017

HRS/EHRA/ECAS/APHRS/SOLAECE expert consensus statement on catheter ablation and

surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation. 2017.

[3] Odutayo A, Wong CX, Hsiao AJ, Hopewell S, Altman DG et al. (2016) Atrial

fibrillation and risks of cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and death:

systematic review and meta-analysis. Bmj 354 i4482.

[4] Wong CX, Brown A, Tse HF, et al. Epidemiology of Atrial Fibrillation: The

Australian and Asia-Pacific

SOURCE  Biosense Webster