Catching up with AFFECT-EU: Optimised screening approach helping to prevent strokes
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder in the world. In the EU, people 55 and over living with the condition are expected to more than double from 8.8 million in 2010 to 17.9 million by 2060. AF often has no symptoms and remains undiagnosed until a stroke occurs. Screening can identify undiagnosed AF. The overall objective of the AF screening strategy developed by the AFFECT-EU project is to prevent subsequent strokes and premature death. Since March, project partners have extended the data platform that includes harmonised datasets of 18 clinical cohorts and randomised controlled trials concerning AF strategies and the risk of adverse effects. The overall sample size totals 244 000 participants. An extensive catalogue has been set up with information on baseline data from electrocardiography, age and sex, medical history, and outcomes of AF detection and anticoagulation on all screenings. Project partners are assessing the financial impact of implementing a screening programme in eight different healthcare systems in Europe over a five-year period. The findings will be published soon. A paper in ‘EP Europace’ presented the feasibility study results to screen for AF when carried out without face-to-face contact or via in-person appointments in primary care. An expert position paper in the same journal concluded that patients with AF and a low arrhythmia burden have a lower risk of stroke and other cardiovascular events than those with a high arrhythmia burden.
Paving the way for well-structured AF screening programmes
According to Renate Schnabel, professor in cardiology at project coordinator University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany, EU funds significantly boosted the ability of AFFECT-EU (DIGITAL, RISK-BASED SCREENING FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY) to make impactful advances in the early detection and management of AF. Ultimately, this will contribute to better health outcomes throughout Europe. The funding supported collaboration among multiple institutions and experts, helping to pool resources, share knowledge and enhance the project’s overall impact. A special focus was on the support, integration and development of junior researchers. AFFECT-EU was able to suggest AF screening algorithms, test findings and innovations in population cohorts and pilot decision support tools. It also ensured that the outcomes and best practices were effectively disseminated to healthcare professionals, policymakers and the public. Webinars and workshops were organised to equip stakeholders with the necessary skills and knowledge. “EU funding ensured that AFFECT-EU’s successes are sustainable and scalable beyond its initial timeframe,” concludes Schnabel. “The financial resources have helped establish frameworks and infrastructures that can continue to benefit AF management in the long term.” Highly successful cooperations are ongoing.
Keywords
AFFECT-EU, atrial fibrillation, heart, stroke, screening, healthcare, arrhythmia