Will Pass October 26, 2022 Cocaine, methamphetamine, opioids, and cannabis may independently increase risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), based on data from almost 24 million people. While more work is needed to uncover causal links, physicians should be aware that these commonly abused substances could be driving new cases of AFib, reported investigators from the University of California,...
Tag: <span>Atrial fibrillation</span>
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Black patients with atrial fibrillation more likely to experience adverse outcomes
by University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Black patients with atrial fibrillation are less likely to be prescribed newer anticoagulant medications when they leave the hospital compared to their white counterparts and are consequently more likely to experience adverse outcomes, including stroke and death, according to a new study...
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Are smartwatch health apps to detect atrial fibrillation smart enough?
by Elsevier Example of false positive (failure to diagnose a normal ECG in patient without AF) electrocardiograms (ECGs) caused by occurrence of premature complexes or bradycardia and false negative (failure to detect AF in a patient with AF) ECGs caused by broad QRS complexes and ventricular pacing. Credit: Canadian Journal of Cardiology (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2022.08.222 Extended cardiac...
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Atrial fibrillation screening using smartphones increases detection and treatment
by European Society of Cardiology A 12 lead ECG showing atrial fibrillation at approximately 150 beats per minute. Credit: James Heilman, MD/Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0 Atrial fibrillation screening using conventional smartphones more than doubles the detection and treatment rate in older people compared to routine screening, according to late breaking research presented in a Hot Line session on 28...
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New drug molecule for treatment of atrial fibrillation
by National University of Singapore Molecular structure of poyendarone, a new drug candidate for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Credit: National University of Singapore Scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Department of Pharmacy have developed an improved pharmaceutical drug for the treatment of the most common heart rhythm disturbance—atrial fibrillation (AF). The 8-member research...
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Atrial fibrillation after surgery is linked to an increased risk of hospitalization for heart failure
by European Society of Cardiology Associations between post-operative atrial fibrillation and incident heart failure hospitalizations. Credit: European Heart Journal People who develop an abnormal heart rhythm after surgery have an increased risk of subsequently being admitted to hospital with heart failure, according to a study of over 3 million patients, which is published in the European Heart Journal today....
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Global atrial fibrillation study finds simple ablation has best outcomes
by Tulane University Graphical abstract. Credit: JAMA (2022). DOI: 10.1001/jama.2022.8831 Results from one of the largest global studies of atrial fibrillation (AFib) procedures show that the simple approach is usually best when it comes to ablation, a procedure where physicians destroy or ablate cardiac tissue to correct irregular heart rhythms. The findings could change the way patients...
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Sociodemographic disparities in prescribing stroke prevention medications for atrial fibrillation patients
by Public Library of Science Researchers find deep inequalities of care for atrial fibrillation patients. Credit: Polina Tankilevitch There are racial and socioeconomic inequalities in the prescribing of oral anticoagulants to reduce stroke risk in people with atrial fibrillation, according to a new study conducted in the UK and publishing June 7 in the open-access...
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The role of metabolic signaling in preventing atrial fibrillation
by Elisabeth Reitman, Yale University Atrium-selective deletion of AMPK leads to atrial fibrillation in mice. AMPK expression and the development of atrial fibrillation in AMPK double-KO sarcolipin-Cre Prkaa1fl/fl Prkaa2fl/fl (AMPK-dKO) compared with littermate control Prkaa1fl/fl Prkaa2fl/fl (CON) mice. (A) Representative immunoblots with antibodies recognizing the AMPK α2 subunit, both α1 and α2 AMPK subunits (AMPKα), the downstream AMPK target...
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Smartwatch app found to accurately detect atrial fibrillation
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY Atrial fibrillation (AFib) was confirmed in nearly 94% of people who were initially identified to have signs of the heart rhythm disorder by a smartwatch application and who followed up with a clinician, in a study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 71st Annual Scientific Session. The study, which involved more...