Pioneering deck of cards created to support AF diagnosis and management in primary care

A pioneering deck of cards created to support the diagnosis and management of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) in primary care is this week being launched across the North East and North Cumbria.

AF is the most common heart rhythm disturbance, affecting around one million people in the UK.

Developed by a range of prominent healthcare professionals, the AF cards will be delivered to almost 2,200 GPs across the North East and North Cumbria ahead of Heart Rhythm Week 6-12 June.

Instrumental in the AF cards’ production was GP, Dr Nigel Rowell, from South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in conjunction with the Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) and Northern England Strategic Clinical Networks and Senate.

Dr Rowell said:

AF is an area which has burgeoned recently with new anticoagulants available and clear guidance on assessing risk. Most GPs will come across new patients often as a surprise and it was the aim of the AHSN & North of England Cardiovascular Network to produce a desktop aid that a GP could reach for in these consultations.

Endorsed by the Atrial Fibrillation Association and the Stroke Association, the cards will act as a resource designed to help GPs manage their patients with AF more effectively. The cards contain top tips, self-assessment checklists, anticoagulant information and references to patient and professional material.

The AF cards initiative is part of a wider Atrial Fibrillation Programme run by the AHSN and the Northern England Strategic Clinical Networks and Senate.

The aim of the programme is to reduce the number of strokes that occur as a result of undiagnosed and poorly treated AF through targeted case finding and optimal treatment with anticoagulants.

Atrial Fibrillation affects about 7 in 100 people aged over 65 and commonly displays no symptoms in those affected.

Public Health England estimates that 1.36 million people in England are living with AF, giving a current prevalence in the population of around 2.4%. The current diagnosed prevalence rate is 1.6%, suggesting that 474,000 people are living with undiagnosed AF across England.

Heart Rhythm Week is held to raise global awareness of arrhythmic conditions in an attempt to help people better understand their own heart rates.