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The latest statistics regarding the use of pacemakers and implantable cardiac devices in Europe were presented at EUROPACE 2009, the meeting of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) (1). These show large disparities throughout Europe. For example, Germany has one of the highest ICD implant rates in Europe, and EHRA commits to reducing inequalities.

Four leading patient and medical associations have announced the formation of AF AWARE (Atrial Fibrillation AWareness And Risk Education), a joint initiative to highlight and address issues that contribute to the growing burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) worldwide.

Presented by British Journal of Cardiology Education Forum in Association with Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Atrial fibrillation (AF) may be preventable: contributing conditions such as hypertension and left atrial enlargement could serve as therapeutic targets to prevent development of AF.

Data derived from the Primary Prevention Study, which began in 1970 in Sweden, shed some light on the separate influences of body size and weight in youth and weight gain during adulthood on the risk of future atrial fibrillation (AF).

The meta-analysis combined the results of three double-blind randomised intervention studies that examined the effects of fish oil on ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). None of these trials individually had shown whether supplementation had protective effects.

Use of the antiarrhythmic drug dronedarone significantly reduced the risk of hospitalisation due to cardiovascular events or death in patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation or flutter in the ATHENA trial. New data are now available on trial patients with heart failure.

Use of the WATCHMAN® left atrial appendage (LAA) device may be an alternative to warfarin to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

The angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan did not significantly reduce either primary end point in GISSI-AF; that is, time to the first recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) or the proportion of patients with one or more episodes of AF during the one-year follow-up period.

In January 2006 the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) published a risk assessment of antocoagulation care pathways(1). In developing this document the NPSA looked at published literature, data from professional indemnity insurers, the National Health Service Litigation Authority (NHSLA) and error reporting schemes from across the world including the NPSAs own National Reporting and Learning System.