Atrial fibrillation

Nearly 92% of atrial fibrillation patients in England anticoagulated, says NHS adviser

The UK Health Security Agency has achieved the figure five years ahead of its original 2029 target year by offering anticoagulation to nine in ten patients with atrial fibrillation.…

Test your knowledge of cardiovascular disease

This CPD and learning quiz can help you assess your knowledge of cardiovascular disease and related health issues.…

Cardiac chest pain: identification, referral and management in primary care

Chest discomfort is a common symptom with several possible causes. This article outlines how pharmacists can differentiate symptoms and identify when patients are likely to be experiencing myocardial ischaemia.…

NHS England recommends generic apixaban over edoxaban for treatment of atrial fibrillation

For patients already taking a direct-acting oral anticoagulant for atrial fibrillation, NHS England advised commissioners to “consider developing local policy to review patients’ current treatment”.…

Atrial fibrillation: symptoms, diagnosis and management

An overview of the signs, symptoms and recommended pharmacological treatments for atrial fibrillation, which affects around 1.5 million people in England.…

Deprivation and ethnicity linked with lower anticoagulation prescribing for atrial fibrillation, study reveals

Researchers found that, compared with white people, black people were 22% less likely to be prescribed an oral anticoagulant and those from other ethnic minorities were 24% less likely.…

All DOACs recommended for prevention of AF-related stroke, new NICE guideline states

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has overturned draft guidance that once-per-day direct oral anticoagulants should only be offered if twice-daily options are not tolerated.…

Pharmacist-led atrial fibrillation case finding programme prevents an estimated 90 strokes

A pharmacist-led programme to identify patients with atrial fibrillation may have prevented up to 90 AF-related strokes across 23 clinical commissioning group areas, NHS England has said.…

Charity expresses patient safety concerns over draft atrial fibrillation guidance from NICE

A UK charity has expressed patient safety concerns over draft guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on the management of atrial fibrillation.…

Increased anticoagulation is reducing the rate of stroke and saving nearly £300 per patient treated, study suggests

The NHS is saving nearly £300 per patient on oral anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation, despite rising prescription costs for the medicine, owing to a decline in AF-related strokes.…