Following on from our coverage of this year’s Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Week, we talk to Justin Hall, Vice President EMEA and General Manager UK of iRhythm about the condition and the ways that technology can improve detection and diagnosis.
1) What is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Symptoms of AF include heart palpitations, tiredness, shortness of breath and, in some cases, dizziness or feeling faint. However, some people don’t experience any symptoms at all.
Suffering from AF means that blood clots are more likely to form in your heart, drastically increasing your risk of stroke. In fact, AF is the leading independent risk factor for stroke. According to The Stroke Association, it contributes to at least one in five strokes in the UK alone. It also often increases their severity, with research discovering that those suffering with a stroke caused by AF are twice as likely to die and three times more likely to become disabled as a result.
Around 1.2 million people in the UK are currently registered with AF. However, what makes the condition even more serious is that it so often goes undetected. Many sufferers are asymptomatic, with diagnosis being dependent on opportunistic pulse checks, tied to other conditions or medical checkups. In fact, up to a third of those currently living with the condition are thought to be undiagnosed.
2) Why do you think raising awareness about this condition is more important now than ever before?
Raising awareness has always been important when it comes to AF. Despite it being such a serious condition, it is also one that few of us will have heard of, unless we have experienced it personally or know of a family member or friend that has been diagnosed.
As with many heart conditions, the key to improving the outcome of AF is through earlier and more accurate detection. The sooner an individual is diagnosed; the sooner medical practitioners can deploy the best course of treatment. Seeking help earlier ensures a more timely diagnosis, which, in turn, can dramatically improve the chances of managing the condition. Therefore, the more people who have a solid understanding of AF, the better.
This year’s AF Awareness Week – which took place last week – was particularly poignant in light of our ongoing pandemic. Recent figures from The British Heart Foundation recorded more than 4,622 deaths from heart and circulatory diseases since the outbreak began.
Earlier this year, as NHS Trusts struggled to deal with the first wave of COVID-19 cases, many non-essential appointments were – understandably – put on hold. In addition, some individuals actively avoided seeking medical help, whether through fear of catching the virus or in an effort to avoid putting additional strain on healthcare resources. In fact, the latest NHS Digital statistics estimate that there have been around 26 million fewer GP visits during this time.
Unfortunately, we’re likely to feel the impact of these missed appointments for many years to come, especially when it comes to cardiac health. There’s no way of knowing at the moment just how many underlying conditions will have gone undiagnosed during this time period. That’s why raising awareness today is more important than ever before.
3) How can modern technologies help with early, accurate diagnosis?
Today, modern, AI-driven solutions are making it possible to provide earlier warning signs, enabling the identification and management of patients who might otherwise go undiagnosed with a heart condition, until they have a cardiac event, such as a stroke.
For example, iRhythm’s Zio service provides uninterrupted, comprehensive monitoring and ECG interpretation. Unlike traditional monitoring devices, such as the Holter, iRhythm’s flexible, patient-friendly cardiac monitor can be worn at all times – even when exercising, showering and sleeping – to ensure there are no critical knowledge gaps from poor signal quality or data interruptions. In fact, with no loose wires, batteries or maintenance needed, the Zio service can be worn by patients for up to 14 days. This results in a median 99% analysable time, ensuring a more reliable data set is achieved. This is critical when it comes to providing a clear and complete look into a patient’s heart rhythm.
Modern technologies are also critical to the continuation of remote care. Over the course of the pandemic, it was essential to continue to deliver the Zio monitoring service to those that needed it most. In order to align with the government’s restrictions around people leaving their homes, iRhythm opened up the Zio service to offer direct shipping to patients. Through this model, a single-use Zio device is sent directly to the patient, along with supporting materials and a video guide on how to fit the device. After the prescribed wear time, the patient simply removes the device and posts it back to the iRhythm team, using a pre-paid box provided. This model has proven to be very successful, keeping both patients and practitioners safe, while also reducing some of the strain being placed on other healthcare resources.
As the benefits of clinically validated technologies continue to be realised, funding for them within the healthcare space is increasing. In fact, in September, iRhythm was named a winner of the UK government’s AI in Health and Care Award. A competitive process run by the AAC and NHSx as part of the NHS AI Lab, the award aims to benefit patients by combining the power of artificial intelligence with the expertise of the NHS. The funding will be used to trial the Zio service in selected sites – comprising trusts, CCG’s and networks – across the UK, helping to bring AI-led technologies to a greater number of people.
4) What would be your advice for anyone concerned about Atrial Fibrillation?
Heart conditions can be a relatively scary concept. For many, the very idea of having to go through the diagnosis process is enough to put off a visit to a doctor. However, modern technologies – such as the Zio service mentioned above – are helping to transform the landscape. They can be self-applied, both easily and quickly, and worn as you continue with your usual day-to-day tasks and activities. These technologies make accurate, early diagnosis more possible, without any additional stress on the patient’s behalf.
Therefore, my advice for anyone concerned about AF would be to seek help and medical advice as soon as possible. After all, diagnosis is the first step towards treatment and recovery.
