Prevention of atrial fibrillation: report from a national heart, lung, and blood institute workshop.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute convened an expert panel April 28 to 29, 2008, to identify gaps and recommend research strategies to prevent atrial fibrillation (AF). The panel reviewed the existing basic scientific, epidemiological, and clinical literature about AF and identified opportunities to advance AF prevention research. After discussion, the panel proposed the following recommendations: (1) enhance understanding of the epidemiology of AF in the population by systematically and longitudinally investigating symptomatic and asymptomatic AF in cohort studies; (2) improve detection of AF by evaluating the ability of existing and emerging methods and technologies to detect AF; (3) improve noninvasive modalities for identifying key components of cardiovascular remodeling that promote AF, including genetic, fibrotic, autonomic, structural, and electrical remodeling markers; (4) develop additional animal models reflective of the pathophysiology of human AF; (5) conduct secondary analyses of already-completed clinical trials to enhance knowledge of potentially effective methods to prevent AF and routinely include AF as an outcome in ongoing and future cardiovascular studies; and (6) conduct clinical studies focused on secondary prevention of AF recurrence, which would inform future primary prevention investigations.
Benjamin
Emelia J
EJ
Framingham Heart Study, 73 Mount Wayte Ave, Suite 2, Framingham, MA 01702-5827, USA. emelia@bu.edu
Chen
Peng-Sheng
PS
Bild
Diane E
DE
Mascette
Alice M
AM
Albert
Christine M
CM
Alonso
Alvaro
A
Calkins
Hugh
H
Connolly
Stuart J
SJ
Curtis
Anne B
AB
Darbar
Dawood
D
Ellinor
Patrick T
PT
Go
Alan S
AS
Goldschlager
Nora F
NF
Heckbert
Susan R
SR
Jalife
José
J
Kerr
Charles R
CR
Levy
Daniel
D
Lloyd-Jones
Donald M
DM
Massie
Barry M
BM
Nattel
Stanley
S
Olgin
Jeffrey E
JE
Packer
Douglas L
DL
Po
Sunny S
SS
Tsang
Teresa S M
TS
Van Wagoner
David R
DR
Waldo
Albert L
AL
Wyse
D George
DG
D000818:Animals; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D054555:National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U.S.); D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States