What is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), or an irregular heartbeat, can cause blood to pool in a small pouch off the upper left chamber of the heart, known as the left atrial appendage (LAA). This pooling can cause the formation of blood clots which may lead to stroke.
AFib is the most common type of irregular heart rhythm. Over 5 million Americans are living with AFib today, and more than 12 million people are projected to have AFib by 2030.
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1 out of 3
people with AFib will have a stroke in their lifetime.
5X higher stroke risk
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15% of strokes
are due to AFib not caused by a non-valvular heart problem.
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in people with Afib vs. people with a regular heartbeat.
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Current Treatment Options To Reduce Stroke Risk
Oral anticoagulants, also known as blood thinners, are often prescribed to prevent blood clot formation; however, they may not be well accepted due to an increased risk of bleeding and the need for ongoing monitoring. Long-term use increases these risks and requires careful management to stay effective.
Oral Anticoagulants
Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a one-time procedure that aims to reduce the risk of blood clots forming in the LAA leading to stroke and eliminate the need for long term daily oral anticoagulant therapy.
Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion
It is not necessary for you to be enrolled in the CONFORM Pivotal Trial to protect you from stroke or related complications from blood clots. Alternative therapies for your medical condition may include long term medication that thins your blood or commercially available left atrial appendage closure devices.
Discuss with your doctor to see what treatment option is best for you.
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American Heart Association (AHA). "What Is Atrial Fibrillation (AFib or AF)?" https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation/what-is-atrial-fibrillation-afib-or-af.
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FAQ About AFib. American Heart Association, Inc., 2023. Available at: www.heart.org/-/media/Files/Health-Topics/Atrial-Fibrillation/FAQ-About-AFib.pdf. Accessed June 10, 2024.
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Blackshear JL, Odell JA. Appendage obliteration to reduce stroke in cardiac surgical patients with atrial fibrillation. Ann Thorac Surg. 1996;61:755-759.
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Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb. The Facts of AFib. March 2015.
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S.S. Chung, R. Havmoeller, K. Narayanan, et al. Worldwide epidemiology of atrial fibrillation: a Global Burden of Disease 2010 study. Circulation, 129(2014), pp. 837-847.
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Holmes, David R., et al. "Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Stroke Prophylaxis in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta-Analysis." Journal of the American College of Cardiology, vol. 64, no. 6, 2014, pp. 427–435. ScienceDirect, doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2014.03.054.
