Anti-stroke drug approved by Nice

Source: The Telegraph 15th March 2012

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: March 2012

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: The drug Pradaxa has been approved by NICE for use in England and Wales. It has the potential to prevent up to 5,000 strokes a year in Britain by reducing the risk of a stroke in people with atrial fibrillation.

Length of publication: 1 page

Daily £2 pill to protect against strokes is given go-ahead

Source: The Telegraph 30th March 2012

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: March 2012

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: NICE has given its backing to a new drug to help prevent stroke in people with atrial fibrillation. Rivaroxaban costs just £2.10 a day and patients with AF need only take it once every 24 hours to help thin the blood.

Length of publication: 1 page

Cost-effectiveness of dabigatran etexilate for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in UK patients with atrial fibrillation

Source: Heart 2012 Apr; 98 (7): 573-578

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: April 2012

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This study assesses the cost-effectiveness of dabigatran etexilate, a new oral anticoagulant, versus warfarin and other alternatives for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in UK patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Length of publication: 6 pages

GPs should screen all over 65s for stroke risk, experts urge

Source: GP Online 5th March 2012

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: March 2012

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: Stroke specialists from across the UK have called for a national screening programme for Atrial Fibrillation. They say that over 5,000 strokes and 2,000 deaths could be prevented in the UK each year by checking patients’ pulses.

Length of publication: 1 page

Healthcare pioneers: showcasing innovative practice in atrial fibrillation

Source: Atrial Fibrillation Association

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication:

Publication type: Booklet

In a nutshell: This booklet from the Atrial Fibrillation Association contains ten case studies showcasing innovative practice in AF around the country in a variety of settings.

Length of publication: 19 pages

New stroke radio advert launched to save lives

Source: The Stroke Association

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: May 2011

Publication type: Press release

In a nutshell: A new radio advertising campaign has been launched by The Stroke Association to raise awareness of atrial fibrillation and its link with stroke. The new adverts are part of the charity’s Ask First campaign, which aims to encourage people to speak to their GP if they think they might have atrial fibrillation. 

Length of publication: 1 page

New drug better than aspirin at reducing stroke risk

Source: The Telegraph

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: February 2011

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: A new drug has been found to reduce the risk of stroke among patients who have atrial fibrillation. A randomised trial of 5,600 AF patients found that the drug apixaban reduced their chance of suffering a stroke by 3.6 per cent a year. By contrast, aspirin only reduced their risk by 1.6 per cent a year.

Length of publication: 1 page news item

Some important notes: The original article on which these comments are based can be viewed here

Thousands at risk of stroke as Britons fail to keep their fingers on the pulse

Source: The Stroke Association

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: January 2011

Publication type: Press release

In a nutshell: New research conducted for The Stroke Association by Ipsos MORI has revealed that thousands of people could be at risk of stroke in the UK due to low public awareness of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Length of publication: 1 page

Preventing stroke: primary force

Source: Health Service Journal

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: August 2010

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article is the second in a series. It looks at the lessons learned by cardiac and stroke networks in NHS Improvement pilots and considers how stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation can be developed in primary care.

Length of publication: 2 pages

Preventing stroke: action or crisis

Source: Health Service Journal

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: June 2010

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article is the first in a series. It focuses on the issue of stroke prevention, and in particular the concern that too little is being done in stroke prevention for patients with atrial fibrillation. The report considers how local services may be improved to deal with this problem.

Length of publication: 4 pages

Atrial fibrillation – detection and optimal therapy in primary care

Source: NHS Evidence Quality and Productivity

Follow this link for full text

Date of publication: November 2009

Publication type: Best practice

In a nutshell: Each year there are 16,000 strokes in patients who have atrial fibrillation. Warfarin reduces the risk of stroke by 50-70%, but an estimated 46% of patients who would benefit from anticoagulants are not receiving them. This case study outlines details of savings which have been made to NHS Trusts by identifying patients with atrial fibrillation and preventing stroke.

Length of publication: 7 pages

Some important notes: The case study is based on a project run by the NHS Stroke Improvement Programme.

Commissioning for stroke prevention in primary care – the role of atrial fibrillation

Source: NHS Improvement

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: July 2009

Publication type: Guidance

In a nutshell: This document looks at the evidence surrounding Atrial Fibrillation management in Primary Care and discusses how the development of strategies to identify, diagnose and treat patients can reduce the risk of stroke.

Length of publication: 16 page document