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MUNICH – Over 10,000 patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, policy makers and the general public from 136 countries have signed the world’s only Global Atrial Fibrillation Patient Charter calling for government action to help prevent millions of people from dying or becoming disabled by a stroke caused by Atrial Fibrillation (AF).
Tens of millions of people around the world are affected by AF, an under-diagnosed, under-treated and potentially life threatening condition characterized by an abnormal heart rhythm. The irregular heartbeat of AF causes blood to pool and this can result in the development of blood clots – these clots can potentially travel to the brain blocking the oxygen supply and triggering a major and often fatal stroke.
Charter outlines strategies
The Global AF Patient Charter defines strategies and solutions to reduce the number of these preventable strokes. Support for the Charter and the “Sign Against Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation” campaign has increased significantly since its launch just 18 weeks ago at the World Heart Federation’s World Congress of Cardiology in Dubai. In addition to the growing public support, 90 global, regional and national medical and patient organisations representing all regions of the world have endorsed the Charter, a demonstration of the importance of detecting AF earlier and ensuring people receive the best possible care.
“All of the endorsing organisations are committed to supporting people with AF, stroke survivors and the medical professionals who care for them,” said Maria Caporaso, from Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE). “We want to draw greater attention and action from national governments to the need to prevent AF-related strokes as they are more serious than those resulting from other causes, meaning that they are more devastating to the families affected and have a bigger cost impact on national healthcare budgets. We encourage everyone to visit www.signagainststroke.com and sign the Charter!”