|
Urgent coordinated action is needed to avoid the thousands of preventable strokes that leave many
atrial fibrillation (AF) patients mentally and physically disabled or dead,
every year. A report, How Can We Avoid a Stroke Crisis?, was launched
in the European Parliament in December 09 by Action for Stroke Prevention, a
group of health experts from across Europe, proposes measures to tackle stroke
in patients with AF, the most common, sustained abnormal heart rhythm and a
major cause of stroke. Their proposal, endorsed by 17 leading European medical
professional and patient organisations, calls for EU policy makers and Member State
governments to act before the increasing frequency of these strokes becomes a
major public health crisis.
The Report warns of a stroke epidemic across Europe, if
actions are not taken now to slow the rising tide of preventable strokes
occurring every year.Linda McAvan, Member of the European Parliament (MEP),commented,
“It is important that government and healthcare policy makers take action to address the unmet
medical needs in stroke prevention. I support the
recommendations made in the Report by Action for Stroke Prevention, and believe
that their implementation will contribute to the
prevention of stroke in patients with AF and, in turn, reduce the dramatically
increasing clinical, economic and social burden of stroke in Europe.”
Recommendations made by the Report
include: improving patient education, AF diagnosis and stroke risk assessment,
taking new approaches to prevention, facilitating the exchange of best practice
between Member States, developing strategies to support adherence to
guidelines, and the provision
of equal and adequate administration of therapy for patients with AF.
The full report can be read or downloaded here. |
Developments
