The UK Department of Health’s strategy for stroke care has increased the priority and awareness of the condition and started to improve patients’ care and outcomes, concludes a report by the National Audit Office(1). Actions taken since 2006 have improved the value for money of stroke care; but improvements have not been universal and improvements in follow-up care have not matched those of acute care services.
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Progress in improving stroke care
IN THIS ISSUE
Video: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible devices
Dr Sanjay Prasad, Consultant Cardiologist, Royal Brompton Hospital, London. describes the breakthrough with the availability of new implantable devices such as the EnRhythm MRI Surescan Pacemaker System from Medtronic. Described as the world’s first pacing system designed, tested and approved for MRI, it is hoped devices such as these will benefit and provide access for the estimated 50-75% of patients worldwide with implanted devices who are expected to need an MRI scan during the lifetime of their devices.
IQ ranks among the strongest predictors of cardiovascular disease
While lower intelligence scores – as reflected by low results on written or oral tests of Intelligence Quotient (IQ) have been associated with a raised risk of cardiovascular disease, no study has so far compared the relative strength of this association with other established risk factors such as obesity, smoking and high blood pressure.
Robust response to NICE decision on dronedarone
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published their preliminary decision on 24th December 2009, not to recommend the use of the antiarrhythmic, dronedarone, for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients on the NHS. The decision has been met with protests from the medical community, politicians and the heart rhythm charity, Arrhythmia Alliance.
Study prompts calls for Europe-wide salt legislation
New research published in the New England Journal of Medicine (1) quantifies for the first time the annual number of new cases of coronary heart disease (CHD) , stroke and Myocardial Infarction( MI) that could be prevented by populations reducing daily intakes of salt.
A high prevalence of AF in highly trained cross-country skiers
The Birkebeinerski race from the Norwegian town of Rena to the Olympic winter sports resort of Lillehammer takes place on 20 March this year. Recent research now suggest that participants may be at unusually high risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
Patient Safety First encourages trusts to ‘Count your calls’ to reduce cardiac arrests and death
In January 2010 Patient Safety First launches the first of four focus weeks as part of its campaign to help trusts eliminate avoidable death and harm to patients.
CURRENT NEWS
EU Spanish Presidency meeting: ESC welcomes call for comprehensive CVD strategy
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) welcomes the call from the Spanish Presidency of the European Union (EU) for the development of a “comprehensive strategy” on cardiovascular disease (CVD) at the European level. The call, which came at the close of the “Conference on Cardiovascular Disease”, held in Madrid, Spain, 18 to 19 February, included strategies for prevention, treatment, risk assessment, education and tackling the CVD inequalities that exist across Europe.
2010 NHS Operating Framework Mandates Venous Thromboembolism Prevention in the NHS
The All-Party Parliamentary Thrombosis Group (APPTG) has recently welcomed the Department of Health’s (DH) decision to mandate venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention in the Operating Framework for the NHS in 2010/11. The All Party Group has been campaigning for its inclusion as a key step in reducing up to 25,000 annual avoidable deaths and saving the NHS over half a billion pounds a year.
CKD patients benefit from carotid endarterectomy for stroke prevention
Physicians should be comfortable referring some patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) for effective stroke prevention surgery, according to a study appearing in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN) (1).
Commissioning for health and well-being
A new commissioning guide for promoting health and well-being has just been launched by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).
Patients now more likely to see stroke and other consultants on hospital admission
Patients are more likely to see a consultant on admission to hospital, due to the increase in numbers of consultants in acute medicine, according to the annual consultant census from the Federation of the Royal College of Physicians of the UK*.
Anti-inflammatory protein shows promise in Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) Patients
Viron Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company* which is developing immune-modulating protein therapeutics derived from pathogens, has recently reported encouraging results from a Phase IIa clinical trial evaluating VT-111 (Serp-1), an anti-inflammatory protein derived from the myxoma virus, in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.
Cosmetic surgery patients at more risk than ever
A special edition of the journal, Clinical Risk, published today by the Royal Society of Medicine, looks at how the combination of an under-regulated market, “professional greed”, increased marketing and overwhelming media hype have created a “perfect storm” that threatens patients and practitioners alike. The journal’s editor argues that cosmetic surgery patients in the UK are at more risk than ever before.
Tributes paid following recent death of Professor Helmut Drexler
Professor Drexler was an active member of the European Society of Cardiology and sat on the board of the Heart Failure Association (HFA). Although Heart Failure was his main passion, Professor Drexler was also an important figure in stem-cell research. He was a principle investigator in the BOOST study and the CADS trial – a comparison of Captopril and Digoxin in patients with LV – dysfunction after myocardial infarction.
Multaq® (dronedarone) recommended for approval in the European Union
Sanofi-aventis has announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has adopted a positive opinion recommending to grant a marketing authorization in the European Union for Multaq® (dronedarone – 400mg Tablets).
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