Heart Rhythm Society in the News

December 23, 2011 — "Do You Need an Electrophysiologist?" by Beth Orenstein, Everyday Health
Society President Bruce L. Wilkoff, MD, FHRS explains the difference in medical training between a cardiologist and a heart rhythm specialist, also known as an electrophysiologist (EP), and why an irregular heartbeat diagnosis means its time to see an EP.

October 28, 2011 — "When Your Heart Skips A Beat—Or Two" Men's Health, Doctors on Call (blog)
Blog post written by Society President Bruce L. Wilkoff, MD, FHRS explains the symptoms and characteristics of atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disorder, which affects two million Americans.

October 4, 2011 — "Patients With Implanted Cardiac Devices Should Learn About End-Of-Life Options" by Laura Kennedy, Health Behavior News Service
Article discusses the need for cardiologists and electrophysiologists to discuss the deactivation of implantable cardiac devices with patients nearing end of life. Society member David L. Hayes, MD, FHRS is quoted and the article references the Society's HRS Expert Consensus Statement on the Management of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices (CIEDs) in patients nearing end of life or requesting withdrawal of therapy.

October 4, 2011 — "Alcohol, Obesity Major Causes Of Sudden Heart Death" HealthDay News
Obesity and alcohol consumption are among the leading causes of sudden cardiac death not caused by coronary artery disease, a new study published in the HeartRhythm Journal finds.

September 28, 2011 — "Experts Point Out Signs Of Dangerous Heart Rhythm" HealthDay News
The article, based off of the Society's AF Awareness news release, discusses the symptoms of AF and its risk factors. The article has been picked up by over 100 media outlets to date. Society President Bruce L. Wilkoff, MD, FHRS is quoted.

September 7, 2011 — "September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month" Live Healthy (blog)
A Texas hospital blogs about the Heart Rhythm Society's AF Awareness Campaign, "Afib Feels Likes," as well as its public service announcement.

September 2, 2011 — "Atrial Fibrillation Impacting More Americans" by HRS President-elect Anne M. Gillis, MD, FHRS, Chicago Tribune
The Society was featured in a special cardiovascular health report that ran as an insert in the print version of the Chicago Tribune and was also featured on the homepage of the newspaper's website. Society President-elect Anne M. Gillis, MD, FHRS educates readers about Atrial Fibrillation and why they should care about the most common heart rhythm disorder.

August 22, 2011 — "More-Complicated Heart Defibrillators Carry Some Risks - Study" by Anjali Athavaley, Wall Street Journal
Dual-chamber ICDs pose a significantly greater risk of serious procedural complications, including in-hospital death, than do single-chamber ICDs, according to a new analysis. Society President Bruce L. Wilkoff, MD, FHRS is quoted.

August 5, 2011 — "End-Of-Life Talks Key For HF Patients" MedPage Today
Article notes the Heart Rhythm Society's first-of-its-kind Expert Consensus Statement on the Management of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices (CIEDs) in patients nearing end of life or requesting withdrawal of therapy.

August 5, 2011 — "Smoking Linked to Raised Risk of Irregular Heartbeat, Study Finds" Healthday News
The risk of developing atrial fibrillation is 1.32 times higher in former smokers and two times higher in current smokers, compared to people who never smoked, according to a new study in the August issue of HeartRhythm, the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society.

June 14, 2011—"Scrutiny For Heart Devices" by Ron Winslow, The Wall Street Journal
A new study showed that nearly 40% of patients who are candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy receive little benefit from the devices. Patients with a QRS between 120 and 150 milliseconds typically don't benefit from the devices. Society President Bruce L. Wilkoff, MD, FHRS is quoted.

June 7, 2011—"House Aims To Improve A-Fib Care" Cardiovascular Business
The House of Representatives adopted a resolution to improve the health of individuals with AF by promoting enhanced awareness, treatment, and diagnoses. Resolution 295 was put forth by Reps Kay Granger from Texas and Dutch Ruppersberger from Maryland. The Heart Rhythm Society has applauded the House's work. Society President Bruce L. Wilkoff, MD, FHRS is quoted.

May 23, 2011—"Growing Cost, Cutbacks & Changes" by Justine Cadet, Cardiovascular Business
The article covers highlights of the Society's 32nd Annual Scientific Sessions, which took place May 4-7, 2011 in San Francisco, CA.

May 18, 2011—"Philips, HRS Collaborate On Networked EP Lab" Imaging Economics
Royal Philips Electronics and the Heart Rhythm Society have teamed up to showcase current and further diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment solutions for heart rhythm disorders at Heart Rhythm 2011, the Society's 32nd Annual Scientific Sessions. The Networked Electrophysiology (EP) Lab is an educational center where advanced clinical technologies, new processes, and integrate data-sharing solutions are presented.

May 13, 2011—"Safety: Report Questions Studies on Stun Guns" by Roni Caryn Rabin, The New York TImes
While stun guns are considered a nonlethal method of restraining suspects, studies have shown that stun guns may have contributed to the deaths of suspects. Studies done by stun gun manufacturers concluded that the devices were not harmful, but independent research showed that the device is considered the most-tested less-lethal use of force technology today. This study was presented at Heart Rhythm 2011, the Society's 32nd Annual Scientific Sessions.

May 12, 2011—"Keep MP3 Headphones 2 Centimeters Or More From Pacemaker: Study" US News & World Report
A new study shows that when positioned properly, the headphones of MP3 players won't cause problems for patients with implantable cardiac devices. These findings were presented at Heart Rhythm 2011, the Society's 32nd Annual Scientific Sessions.

May 9, 2011—"New Guidelines For Cardiovascular Genetic Testing" Finnish Healthcare Business
An international panel of experts from the Heart Rhythm Society and the European Heart Rhythm Association issued new guideline recommendations for all healthcare professionals on cardiovascular genetic testing at Heart Rhythm 2011, the Society's 32nd Annual Scientific Sessions.

May 6, 2011—"HRS: Mapping Tool Boosts Afib Ablation " by Chris Kaier, MedPage Today (Log In Required)
A new mapping system can identify small focal points of atrial fibrillation electrical activation in the atrium, helping improve outcomes in those undergoing conventional pulmonary vein ablation. Individuals who received an ablation of the rotors and conventional pulmonary vein ablation had a better outcomes than those who only underwent conventional ablation. Researchers presented these findings at Heart Rhythm 2011, the Heart Rhythm Society's 32nd Annual Scientific Sessions. Society President Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS is quoted.

May 5, 2011—"Grassley Renews Call For Voluntary Disclosure By Influential Disease And Medical Advocacy Groups" Press Release
Grassley has renewed his challenge to leading advocacy groups to make public the details of the support they receive from industry and notes the Heart Rhythm Society's current level of transparency.

March 23, 2011—"New Silver Book Reveals Growing Burden Of Thrombosis And Need For Medical Innovation" PR Web
The Alliance for Aging Research released a new volume of the Silver Book, which focuses on atrial fibrilation, stroke, and venous thromboembolism, the three common causes of and results of thrombosis. The Alliance also announced the launch of the Afib Optimal Treatment Task Force. Member organizations, including the Heart Rhythm Society, are working together in order to ensure that practice guidelines reflect the latest information and are effectively put into practice.

March 7, 2011—"Electricians of the Heart Treat Millions of Americans" by Andrea Boyarsky, SILive.com
A teenage rugby player passes away from sudden cardiac arrest due to cardiomegaly and biventricular hypertrophy. The article discusses the commonality of teenagers and young people dying of heart failure and what measures can be taken to reduce this cause of death. The HeartRhythm Journal's Editor-in-Chief, Douglas L. Zipes, MD, FHRS, is quoted.

March 6, 2011—"Rugby Player Called 'Big Bundle of Fun'" by Alan Gathright and Megan Jurgemeyer, KMGH Denver
The article follows a patient's experience after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Society President Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS is quoted.

February 15, 2011— "New Anticoagulant Added to Afib Recs" MedPage Today
The article discusses the Heart Rhythm Society's recommendation on the use of the recently approved anticoagulant dabigatran (Pradaxa) as an alternative drug for stroke prevention.

January 23, 2011— "Heart Doctor Group Cooperating in Federal Investigation" New York Times
Several outlets cover the news of an ongoing Department of Justice civil investigation of ICD implants and the Heart Rhythm Society's advisory role in the investigation to lend expertise concerning proper guidelines for clinical decision making.

2010

December 21, 2010 — Focused Update Features Changes in Management of AF Cardiology Today
The article covers highlights of the new 2011 ACCF/AHA/HRS Focused Update on the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. Society President Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS is quoted.

December 17, 2010 — "Circ: EP Experts Seek to Improve SCD Prevention " Cardiovascular Business
The outcome of the 2009 HRS/NHBLI Expert Consensus Workshop on SCD identified knowledge gaps and offered six specific research recommendations in high priority areas for SCD prediction and prevention, according to a report published in the Nov. 30 issue of Circulation. Society President Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS is quoted.

December 13, 2010 — "CMS Grants EP Physician Speciality Code" Cardiovascular Business
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has approved a physician specialty code for cardiac electrophysiology, due to the efforts of the Heart Rhythm Society. Society President Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS is quoted.

December 2, 2010 - "Phone It In: Remote Monitoring Could Offer Peace of Mind for Patients with "Recalled" ICD Leads " by Steve Stiles, Heartwire
Remote monitoring can help physicians keep daily tabs on patients with implanted devices and leads subject to U.S. FDA safety advisories or recalls. Society President-elect Bruce L. Wilkoff, MD, FHRS is quoted, along with several other Society members.

November 22, 2010 — "New Bloodthinners Thicken The Drug Market" by Leslie Tamura, The Washington Post
The article provides several perspectives from patients and physicians on the use of warfarin and several new anticoagulants hitting the market in the future. Society President Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS is quoted.

November 13, 2010 — "Pacemakers Keep on Ticking: Why Not Reuse Them? " by Janet Moore, Star Tribune
A study of secondhand pacemakers in developing countries has ignited a debate between proponents of the idea and makers of the cardiac-rhythm devices. Society President-Elect Bruce L. Wilkoff, MD, FHRS is quoted.

November 9, 2010 — "HRJ: Internal med docs are uncomfortable deactivating ICDs " by Cardiovascular Business
A majority of physicians are not comfortable conducting end-of-life discussions about deactivating pacemakers and implantable cardioversion-defibrillators, compared with other life-sustaining therapies, such as mechanical ventilation, according to a survey published in the November edition of HeartRhythm.

October 12, 2010 — "CPR Turns 50; Groups Enlist Congress' Support for SCA Survival" by Chris Kaiser, Cardiovascular Business
Members of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Coalition, including the Heart Rhythm Society, took their birthday celebration for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which turns 50 years old this month, to Capitol Hill in an effort to enlist congressional help in taking action to reduce deaths from sudden cardiac arrest.

October 10, 2010 — "Device Shows Promise in Preventing Strokes" by Stacey Singer, The Palm Beach Post
Physicians discuss the AtriClip, a new medical device designed to eliminate the source of many strokes in people living with atrial fibrillation. Heart Rhythm Society President Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS is quoted in the article.

October 7, 2010 — "National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month: The Apples And Oranges Campaign" by Mary Kyle, EmpowHER
The Heart Rhythm Society's "Apples and Oranges" Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Campaign is profiled and readers learn key differences between SCA and a heart attack.

October 5, 2010 — "Women Weigh Heart-Healthy Alcohol, Breast Cancer Risk" by Liz Szabo, USA Today
The article discusses the risk associated with drinking alcohol or coffee for breast cancer survivors, while also noting that a new study published in the October issue of HeartRhythm finds that women who drink one glass of alcohol per day have a 36% lower risk of encountering sudden cardiac death.

September 30, 2010 — Heart Rhythm Society Featured in Cardiovascular Health Report
Heart Rhythm Society leaders, Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS and Richard L. Page, MD, FHRS are featured in a special cardiovascular health report that ran as an insert in the print version of the Los Angeles Times and was also featured on the homepage of the newspaper's website.

September 21, 2010 — "Standards Drawn Up for Live Case Demos at Meetings" by Cardiovascular Business
Six cardiovascular societies from around the world, including the Heart Rhythm Society, have published a statement on live case demonstrations at cardiovascular meetings.

September 9, 2010 — "HRJ: ICD Complications Decline, Medicare Patients Receive Most ICDs" Cardiovascular Business
Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS (2010–2011 President) discusses new data findings in the Fourth ICD Registry Update, including a trend toward a decrease in complications for new implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

September 3, 2010 — "HRJ: Demand for EPs Rises Due To Procedural Growth" by Justine Cadet, Cardiovascular Business
According to the Heart Rhythm Society's new Workforce Study published in the September issue of HeartRhythm, there are increasing demands for EP professionals as a result of shifting demographic trends, evolving healthcare reform policies and improved procedural outcomes.

August 16, 2010 — "Cardiac Arrest Campaign Gains Recognition" by Julian Pecquet, Healthwatch
A Capitol Hill healthcare blog reports that the Heart Rhythm Society's "Apples and Oranges" Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Campaign has been named to the 2010 Associations Advance America Honor Roll.

July 27, 2010 — "Specialty Physicians Support Senate Bill To Repeal The IPAB" by Pharmacy Choice
The Heart Rhythm Society, along with other members of the Alliance of Specialty Medicine, support the "Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act" (S.3653), which would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board and protect individuals from Medicare cuts that could threaten their access to care.

July 20, 2010 — "Apples and Oranges Pt. 3" by Wendy Braun, Saturday Evening Post
In the final part of a series discussing the difference between heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest, Immediate Past President Dr. Richard Page discusses what to do if you witness a SCA and why automated external defibrillators should be as commonplace as fire extinguishers.

July 8, 2010 — "Benefits Of Implantable Defibrillators May Differ By Gender" by MSN Health and Fitness
According to a new study in the July issue of HeartRhythm, women with implantable cardiac defibrillators appear less likely than men to suffer sudden cardiac death. Researchers analyzed the findings of five studies that followed 7,229 heart failure patients, including approximately 1,600 women.

July 5, 2010 — "Security Of Medical Devices Is A Concern" by Elizabeth Cooney, The Boston Globe
The article examines whether the threat of security breaches in medical devices with remote monitoring capabilities is something the health care field should more fully address. Heart Rhythm Society President-elect Bruce L. Wilkoff, MD, FHRS, CCDS is quoted in the article.

June 16, 2010 — "Apples and Oranges Pt. 2" by Wendy Braun, Saturday Evening Post
Immediate Past President, Richard L. Page, MD, FHRS, discusses the risk markers and warning signs of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in part two of this three part series. Dr. Page also outlines ways that people can lower their risk of experiencing SCA.

June 3, 2010 — "What Is Catheter Ablation Success And What Are The Implications" by Christine Welniak and Melanie Tru Hills, StopAF.org
The article highlights the "Medical Issues After Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter" session at Heart Rhythm 2010 that examined what constitutes "success" following catheter ablation.

June 1, 2010 — "Continuing Warfarin Before Device Implantation Reduces Complications" by Cardiovascular Business
For patients undergoing pacemaker or defibrillator implantation, the continuation of warfarin with an international normalized ratio is safe and can reduce incidence of complications, according to a study published in the June edition of HeartRhythm.

May 24, 2010 — "HRS Issues Guidance On Tough Device-Withdrawal Issues" by Steve Stiles, Heartwire
The Heart Rhythm Society's "Consensus Statement on the management of CIEDS in patients nearing end of life guidance" offers detailed guidance for physicians, allied professionals and others in managing the complex issues they face when patients with pacemakers or ICDs are nearing the end of life or ask for device deactivation.

May 18, 2010 — "Experts Debate Doc Involvement, Quality Measures In Healthcare Reform" by Justine Cadet, Cardiovascular Business
Expert panelists at Heart Rhythm 2010's Opening Plenary Session discuss the impact of healthcare reform legislation, government involvement and the questions that remain about quality measures within clinical practice.

May 18, 2010 — "Results From China's First Large Pacemaker Study Presented At U.S. Conference" by China Tibet Information Center
Results of the PANORAMA study, the first multicenter, randomized pacemaker study ever conducted in China was presented at Heart Rhythm 2010. The results show that a new pacemaker model with a physiologic pacing function can help improve patients' life quality and extend the device's battery life.

May 18, 2010 — "For ICD Patients, Blacks Die Less, Whites Have Less Readmission" by Justine Cadet, Cardiovascular Business
According to new research on outcomes in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, Caucasians had fewer hospital readmissions and African-Americans had a lower mortality rate. The research was presented at Heart Rhythm 2010.

May 16, 2010 — "Practice Counts For AFib Cryoablation" by Chrystal Phend, Medpage Today
At Heart Rhythm 2010, researchers released more results from the STOP-AF trial, which finds that cryoablation for atrial fibrillation appears to be highly dependent on operator experience for patient outcomes but not for safety. However, greater experience at this technique did not cut down on adverse events or improve safety.

May 14, 2010 — "MADIT-CRT: Avoid Apical LV Lead Position In HF Resynchronization Therapy" Steve Stiles, Medscape
In a follow-up analysis from the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy presented at Heart Rhythm 2010, the rate of death or heart-failure hospitalization — the trial's primary end point —went up significantly for patients whose LV leads had been extended to the apex of the heart during implantation of the CRT system, compared with those with other LV lead locations.

April 20, 2010 — "Apples and Oranges" by Wendy Braun, Saturday Evening Post
The article highlights five facts about sudden cardiac arrest from the Heart Rhythm Society's "Apples and Oranges" campaign.

April 2, 2010 — "Atrial Fibrillation Linked To Increased Dementia Risk" Modern Medicine
Patients with atrial fibrillation -- especially those under 70 -- may have an increased risk of developing dementia, along with an increased risk of death after a dementia diagnosis, according to a study published in the April issue of HeartRhythm.

February 11, 2010 — "Defibrillator Safety Questioned" by Jonathan Rockoff, The Wall Street Journal
A new case study available on the HeartRhythm Journal's website examines two defibrillator brands made by Boston Scientific Corp. and whether the devices have a design flaw that can result in potentially life-threatening shocks to the hearts of patients.

February 9, 2010 — "Women More Likely To Fail Treatment For Atrial Fibrillation" US News & World Report
According to new research published in HeartRhythm, women are more likely than men to fail catheter ablation treatments for atrial fibrillation. Also, men undergo the procedures five times as often as women and usually have fewer complications.

February 4, 2010 — "Hospitals Dispute Medtronic Data on Wires" by Thomas Burton, The Wall Street Journal
The article notes two studies published in past issues of the HeartRhythm Journal examining failure rate and fracture rate of leads.

January 8, 2010 — "Study Finds RFID Readers May Affect Pacemakers, But Pose No Urgent Risk" by Mary Catherine O'Connor, RFID Journal
A study published this month in HeartRhythm, the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society, shows that while interrogators of passive RFID tags do cause some electromagnetic interference to implantable pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, the devices pose no urgent health risks.