AF Prevention and Awareness

Atrial fibrillation (AF or Afib) can severely depreciate an individual’s quality of life, causing heart palpitations, chronic fatigue and debilitating pain. It can also increase the risk of stroke fivefold and is estimated to be responsible for 88,000 deaths and $16 billion in additional costs to the U.S. healthcare system. As the population of the United States and other countries ages, the prevalence of AF is projected to increase — projections are that more than double to 5.6 million adults in the next 40 years will be diagnosed with AF. AF accounts for approximately one-third of hospitalizations for cardiac rhythm disturbances.

Senate Approves AF Resolution (August 2, 2011) On July 29, 2011 Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced S. Res. 243, a U.S. Senate resolution promoting increased awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of atrial fibrillation to address the high morbidity and mortality rates and to prevent avoidable hospitalizations associated with the disease. On the same day, the Senate passed the S. Res. 243 by unanimous consent. "The Heart Rhythm Society applauds the recent adoption of the Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Resolution by the Senate. The AF Resolution will help to raise public awareness of AF by enhancing the quality of care and patient safety, advancing research and education, and improving access to appropriate medical treatment for patients suffering from AF," said Bruce L. Wilkoff, MD, FHRS, President of the Heart Rhythm Society. "The Heart Rhythm Society will continue working in these areas through our Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Campaign, which we are using to foster greater communication between patients and caregivers." Learn more »

Ask Your Representative to Co-Sponsor H.Res. 295 (06/08/2011) On Thursday, June 2, 2011, Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) and Rep. Charles Gonzalez (D-TX) introduced H.Res. 295, Promoting increased awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of atrial fibrillation to address the high morbidity and mortality rates and to prevent avoidable hospitalizations associated with this disease. Learn more »

Society's First Congressional "Fly-In" Addresses AF (03/18/2011)— The Heart Rhythm Society organized its first Congressional "Fly-In" in Washington DC on March 16-17, 2011. Fourteen members of the Society's Health Policy leadership team traveled to Capitol Hill to discuss, and advocate for, priority legislative issues relevant to heart rhythm care with members of Congress, including AF. The Society asked Congress to help it and its partner organizations educate more patients and physicians about the disorder; diagnose AF earlier, including in patients who find it hard to articulate what they are experiencing; and accelerate treatment to end unnecessary suffering. Learn more »

Senate Designates September 2009 as AF Awareness Month (09/16/2009) — The U.S. Senate approved S. Res. 262 by unanimous consent on September 11, designating the month of September 2009 as Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Awareness Month. “Atrial Fibrillation is a very common heart rhythm disorder affecting the lives of millions of Americans and when left untreated can lead to more serious health problems,” said Society President Richard L. Page, MD, FHRS. “The move to establish a National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month is an important step toward increasing overall public awareness and is strongly supported by the Heart Rhythm Society.” Learn more »

National AF Awareness Month Resolution Introduced in Senate (07/30/2009)— On July 22, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) introduced a “National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month Resolution” (S. Res. 220), which calls for the designation of September as National Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Awareness Month. The legislation was also co-sponsored by Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Mike Crapo (R-ID). This is the companion resolution to House Resolution 225 (H. Res. 225). Learn more »

AF Awareness Month Resolution Introduced — Urge your Representative to Co-sponsor the Resolution (03/18/2009) — The Heart Rhythm Society applauds Rep. C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger (D-MD) and Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) for introducing House Resolution 255. This resolution would designate September as "National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month” each year and calls for activities to raise awareness about AF and promote the need for additional research regarding treatment. Learn more »