Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a widespread heart condition affecting millions worldwide. Many AF patients also deal with other health issues.
These additional problems can worsen their heart condition and reduce their chances of survival.
People with AF often have other health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and kidney disease. These issues can make their heart condition more complicated.
A group of healthcare experts is working on a project called EHRA-PATHS. This project aims to find a better way to care for AF patients who also have other health problems.
EHRA-PATHS is a big project led by two heart organizations: the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA). The project focuses on improving care for AF patients with other health issues.
This project is vital because it can help doctors provide better care to AF patients. By managing their other health issues, doctors can improve their overall health and chances of survival.
The EHRA-PATHS project has identified 22 common health problems that often affect AF patients. These problems include high blood pressure, obesity, kidney disease, and more.
For each health problem, the project has made a simple plan. This plan helps doctors:
- Find out if a patient has the health problem.
- Figure out what to do next.
- Make sure the problem gets better.
The most exciting part of this project is a new software tool. This tool puts together all the care plans. It helps doctors take care of AF patients more easily.
Doctors use the software to check AF patients. It helps doctors:
- Find out if the patient has any other health problems.
- See what to do next to help the patient.
- Make sure the health problems are taken care of.
This tool is vital because it makes it easier for doctors to care for AF patients. By finding and treating other health problems, doctors can improve the patient’s health.
The EHRA-PATHS project will test this tool in 65 hospitals across 14 European countries. The project has two parts:
Understanding the Health Problems: Doctors will look at 1,300 AF patients who are 65 or older. They will check if these patients have other health problems and how they are being taken care of.
Using the Tool: Doctors will use the software tool on 1,080 AF patients. They will see if using the tool helps them care for these patients better.
The EHRA-PATHS project is a big step toward improving the care of AF patients. By using this tool, doctors can provide more comprehensive care.
This means better health and a higher chance of survival for people with AF and other health problems.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
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