title: Prevention of atrial fibrillation: report from a national heart, lung, and blood institute workshop.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Framingham Heart Study, 73 Mount Wayte Ave, Suite 2, Framingham, MA 01702-5827, USA. emelia@bu.edu
authors.forename: Emelia J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.forename: Peng-Sheng
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Diane E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Bild
authors.forename: Alice M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mascette
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Calkins
authors.forename: Stuart J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: Anne B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Dawood
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Darbar
authors.forename: Patrick T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Ellinor
authors.forename: Alan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Go
authors.forename: Nora F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Goldschlager
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Heckbert
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jalife
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Donald M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lloyd-Jones
authors.forename: Barry M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Massie
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nattel
authors.forename: Jeffrey E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Olgin
authors.forename: Douglas L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Packer
authors.forename: Sunny S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Po
authors.forename: Teresa S M
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Van Wagoner
authors.forename: Albert L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Waldo
authors.forename: D George
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Wyse
mesh_terms: 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