Salute e Benessere
Medical and Patient Communities Call for Urgent Action to Prevent Impending Stroke Crisis in Latin America
Urgent coordinated action from national governments, medical societies and patient organizations is needed to avoid a public health crisis resulting from the tide of preventable strokes that leave many people with atrial fibrillation (AF) mentally and physically disabled or dead, every year. , a report from - a group of health experts from around the world - reveals the huge economic, social and personal burden of AF-related strokes across the region. Launched today at the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) 3rd Latin America Conference, the report proposes measures to tackle stroke in patients with AF, the most common, sustained abnormal heart rhythm and a major cause of stroke.
said Dr. Carlos Cantu , Professor of Stroke Program at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico ; Founding Member of the Mexican Stroke Association.
Atrial Fibrillation-Related Strokes Are Preventable
's report highlights the magnitude of the impact of stroke in Latin America and outlines measures to prevent stroke in people who have AF. The under-diagnosis of AF, as well as suboptimal use of anticlotting therapies and side-effects of current treatments, mean that an unnecessary and heavy burden is placed on patients, their families and carers, as well as healthcare systems across the region.There are simple actions, which if taken now could prevent a substantial number of deaths, disabilities, and costs resulting from stroke.
Action for Stroke Prevention's recommendations, which are endorsed by 37 medical and patient organizations from Latin America and around the world, include:
said Dr. Jorge Gonzalez-Zuelgaray, Chief of Service of Arrhythmias and Electrophysiology, Sanatorio de la Trinidad San Isidro , Buenos Aires ; president, Arrhythmia Alliance and Atrial Fibrillation Association, Argentina .
Improving access to better patient care
In addition to a high risk of stroke, patients with AF suffer from more severe strokes and have a poorer prognosis after the event than patients without AF. For many patients, surviving a stroke can be worse than dying from one. Stroke often results in widespread and long-lasting damage and disability to patients. Basic functions many of us take for granted, such as walking and speaking, can be severely affected and the sudden onset of stroke means that the affected individual and their family members are not prepared to deal with the physical, psychological and financial burden it can impose.
" said Trudie Lobban , Founder and Trustee, Arrhythmia Alliance, and co-founder and CEO, Atrial Fibrillation Association.
Patients with AF often do not have sufficient access to information about their condition and its treatment but a number of organizations are working to improve access to information on AF in Latin America .
said Mellanie True Hills , Founder and CEO of StopAfib.org
About AF and stroke
AF is the most common, sustained abnormal heart rhythm.(13) It causes the two upper chambers of the heart (the atria) to quiver instead of beating effectively, resulting in blood not being completely pumped out, which in turn causes pooling that can lead to clotting in the atria. If a blood clot leaves the atria, it can become lodged in an artery in the brain blocking the blood supply and causing the patient to suffer from an ischemic stroke.(14) AF is responsible for 20 percent of all ischemic strokes.(14)
Although the current treatment for stroke - vitamin K antagonists, acenocoumarol and phenprocoumon - can be effective, they are also associated with a number of drawbacks and are currently underused, particularly in elderly patients who are at greatest risk of stroke.(15)
Preventing AF in patients at risk of arrhythmia, diagnosing AF before the first stroke occurs and following recommendations regarding the use of anticlotting therapies, including potential new treatment options, are critical for effective prevention of AF-related strokes.(16)
About the Report
The authors and reviewers are comprised of cardiologists, neurologists, primary care practitioners, hematologists, patient representatives and hospital pharmacists.
The Report's call-to-action and recommendations are endorsed by:
Action for Stroke Prevention's report was made possible by sponsorship from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. The report, and all related materials, has been determined by the authors independently of Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.
References
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3. American College of Cardiology. CardioSmart. Atrial fibrillation. 2010
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11. Christensen MC, Valiente R, Sampaio SG et al. Acute treatment costs of stroke in Brazil . Neuroepidemiology 2009; 32:142-9
12. World Health Organization. The global burden of disease: 2004 update. 2008. http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/GBD_report_2004update_full.pdf. Accessed March 2011
13. Kannel WB, Benjamin EJ et al. Prevalence, incidence, prognosis, and predisposing conditions for atrial fibrillation: population-based estimates. Am J Cardiol 1998;82:457-507
14. Marini C, De Santis F, Sacco S et al. Contribution of atrial fibrillation to incidence and outcome of ischemic stroke: results from a population-based study. Stroke 2005;36:1115-9
15. Rane A, Lindh JD. Pharmacogenetics of anticoagulants. Hum Genomics Proteomics 2010;2010:754919
16. Kirchhof et al. Early and comprehensive management of atrial fibrillation: Proceedings from the 2nd AFNET/EHRA consensus conference on AF entitled 'research perspectives in AF'. EurHJ 2009