Hospital aims to examine how older people with atrial fibrillation can be better treated
By Mary Dennehy
TALLAGHT University Hospital is part of a European-wide €6m research project that aims to examine how older people with atrial fibrillation can be better treated.
The Atrial Fibrillation service at the local hospital is part of a successful European Society Cardiology Horizon 2020 research bid, which will use the €6m awarded to fund a project called EHRA-PATHS.
Tallaght University Hospital (TUH)
The European-wide project, which involves 10 clinical sites, will address the challenge of improving the care of older people with atrial fibrillation.
According to Tallaght University Hospital (TUH), atrial fibrillation is an age related condition for most people and a major risk factor for stroke.
This risk can be reduced by anticoagulation.
However, older people with atrial fibrillation often have other problems that impact on both the risk of stroke and heart disease, problems that impact on the use of anticoagulation.
Therefore a ‘proper, comprehensive geriatric assessment’ is required to ensure effective and safe stroke prevention and improve quality of life – which the research project hopes to define.
TUH was the first hospital in Ireland, and one of the first in Europe, to introduce a multidisiplinary clinic for patients with atrial fibrillation.
The clinic is made up of hospital staff from across a number of disciplines including cardiology, geriatric and stroke medicine and pharmacy.
According to TUH: “Given the demography of our catchment area, development of atrial fibrillation services and effective stroke prvention is a strategic priority for the hospital, with the hospital execuitive endorsing this Horizon 2020 project.”
Professor Ronan Collins is the research lead for the Irish site at Tallaght University Hospital.
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