January 16, 2013
Detection and treatment of dangerous atrial fibrillation is
vital
A new blood pressure measuring device
that can also detect a dangerous heart condition has been backed by
the health watchdog.
New guidance from the National Institute
for Clinical Excellence (NICE) supports the use of the ‘WatchBP
Home A’ device by healthcare professionals in primary care to
opportunistically detect atrial
fibrillation (AF) during measurement of blood
pressure.
AF is one of the most common types of
abnormal heart rhythm and a major cause of
stroke if left untreated.
Any device that aids in earlier detection of atrial fibrillation should be welcomed
The
guidance also recommends that while the device should be considered
for use on people with suspected
high blood
pressure, those with suspected atrial fibrillation should have
an
electrocardiogram (ECG) in line with other NICE
guidelines.
Maureen Talbot, our Senior Cardiac Nurse,
said: “This new device won’t replace electrocardiograms but any
device that aids in earlier detection of atrial
fibrillation should be welcomed.
“Atrial fibrillation is a potentially
dangerous condition that affects roughly 1 in 100 people in the UK
and can increase four-fold the risk of a stroke. With appropriate
treatment that risk can be substantially reduced so early
diagnosis is vital.”
Our life-saving research
One of the top professors in the
field, Barbara Casadei, has been working at Oxford
University for 20 years and has now received over £1.9 million from
us to investigate the causes of atrial fibrillation.
Barbara isn’t just a research scientist; she’s
a trained clinician working with patients in the field and also our
newest BHF Chair. Professor Casadei’s work could lead to new ways
of preventing and treating atrial fibrillation.
Find out more about Barbara's vital work
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