Stroke crisis to hit UK unless government acts, warns report
pharmafile | December 5, 2011 | News story | Sales and Marketing | BMS, Pfizer, Pradaxa, UK, stroke
Major improvements are needed in the treatment of atrial fibrillation to avoid a UK stroke epidemic, according to a new report.
The study by Atrial Fibrillation Association and AntiCoagulation Europe UK, says that atrial fibrillation, a common form of irregular heartbeat, now effects 1 in 4 people in the UK and increases the risk of stroke by nearly 500 per cent.
The report says that the number of AF patients in the UK is expected to more than double by 2050 and is under-treated, with only 18% of UK patients with AF receiving anticoagulation treatment that adequately reduces their elevated risk of stroke.
It adds that adherence to current treatment guidelines and routine pulse checks by GPs, could prevent many of the 12,000 AF-related strokes in the UK every year.
The two charities have called for a major public and patient educational programme to improve AF detection and diagnosis, whilst ensuring that patients gain equal access to AF treatments and services, regardless of location.
Trudie Lobban MBE, Atrial Fibrillation Association chief executive and founder, said: “The severity of stroke is matched by the extraordinarily high cost of the condition to the NHS.
“But the problem goes beyond this. AF increases the risk of heart failure more than three-fold, doubles mortality rates and leaves over a third of patients with chronic anxiety or depression.
“Given the high burden and the high rate of under-treatment, we also today launch http://www.afstrokerisk.org, which enables anyone with AF to answer a simple set of questions which generate a comprehensive report on their personal stroke risk. We urge anyone with AF to use this new tool.”
The condition is responsible for nearly half of all embolic strokes, the most common kind of stroke that is caused by blood clots.
It is also responsible for strokes that are more severe, which lead to greater disability and increases the risk of a further stroke.
The report says this puts a great strain on the health service, and estimates that AF-related illnesses cost the NHS over £2.2 billion each year.
New treatments
The current standard therapy for preventing stoke in patients with AF is the use of injectable warfarin, but this is set to be gradually replaced by a new wave of oral anticoagulants.
In August Boehringer Ingelheim’s Pradaxa (dabigatran) become the first drug in 50 years to be approved by European regulators for stroke prevention in this patient group, following approval in the US, Canada, Japan and Australia.
Two other treatments – Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Eliquis (apixaban) and Bayer’s Xarelto (rivaroxaban), are also in the offing to be approved in Europe for the same licence in 2012.
Ben Adams
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