EAST-STROKE is a European study that is exploring whether treating an irregular heartbeat earlier after a stroke could help prevent second strokes.
Atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition where the heart beats unevenly and sometimes too fast. This can lead to blood clots forming in the heart, which in turn may travel to the brain and cause stroke. Doctors usually treat these patients with blood-thinning medicines and drugs to slow the heart rate down.
EAST-STROKE will test whether adding an additional treatment to restore a normal heart rhythm, (rhythm control) soon after a stroke can further reduce the risk of future strokes and heart problems.
Rhythm control may include additional medications or a procedure called ablation, where doctors carefully treat small areas of heart tissue that are causing the irregular rhythm. The goal with this treatment would be to help the heart beat normally again.
Many stroke survivors are left with long-term disabilities following a stroke. For those who also have atrial fibrillation (AF), the risk of having another stroke is high.
“Life after stroke can be a long and difficult journey. By treating the heart rhythm problem early, we hope to reduce the risk of further strokes and help stroke survivors avoid more complications that affect their daily lives.” said Dr Märit Jensen, Neurologist at University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf.
The study will include 1,746 patients in multiple countries and is funded by the European Union.
Arlene Wilkie, Director General of the Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE), said: “If this treatment approach proves safe and effective, it would change how we care for stroke patients with atrial fibrillation and could help prevent many future strokes.”
If successful, the EAST-STROKE trial could lead to a major shift in stroke treatment, helping thousands of patients worldwide avoid recurrent strokes and heart complications.
For more information, see video: https://youtu.be/JM7wKqkCEYk
Or visit the EAST-STROKE website: https://east-stroke.eu
The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 101156541
