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World’s largest screening project to launch in Australia to prevent disabling strokes
HRI’s Professor Ben Freedman, Dr Nicole Lowres and Dr Katrina Giskes have received a significant Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant that is poised to transform Australia’s stroke-related healthcare.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common abnormal heart rhythm, causing one in three strokes that are often severe and largely preventable. AF prevalence rises with age, affecting about 10 per cent of people aged 70 and over, and increases their stroke risk by five times.
One in 10 people who experienced stroke were unaware they had AF at the time of stroke, as AF can be a silent condition that produces no symptoms. By detecting AF early with more intense electrocardiogram (ECG) screening, combined with treatment with oral anticoagulants, the risk of stoke can be reduced by 64 per cent.