Research Priorities for Atrial Fibrillation in Australia: A Statement From the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance Clinical Arrhythmia Theme

Adrian D Elliott; Melissa E Middeldorp; Julie R McMullen; Diane Fatkin; Liza Thomas; Kylie Gwynne; Adam P Hill; Catherine Shang; Meng-Ping Hsu; Jamie I Vandenberg; Jonathan M Kalman; Prashanthan Sanders; Australian Cardiovascular Alliance (ACvA) Atrial Fibrillation Working Group

doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2024.08.008

Research Priorities for Atrial Fibrillation in Australia: A Statement From the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance Clinical Arrhythmia Theme

Heart Lung Circ. 2024 Nov;33(11):1523-1532. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2024.08.008. Epub 2024 Sep 6.

Collaborators

Australian Cardiovascular Alliance (ACvA) Atrial Fibrillation Working Group:
Walter Abhayaratna, Zaidon Al-Falahi, James Bell, Louise Burrell, Lea Delbridge, Adrian Elliott, Diane Fatkin, Anand Ganesan, Tanya Hall, Jeroen Hendriks, Adam Hill, Meng Hsu, Alicia Jenkins, Jonathan Kalman, Monique Kilkenny, Eddy Kizana, Andre La Gerche, Julie McMullen, Melissa Middeldorp, Muideen Olaiya, Rebecca Ritchie, Prash Sanders, Catherine Shang, Vincent Thijs, Liza Thomas, Jamie Vandenberg

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, The University of Adelaide; South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute; and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
² Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, The University of Adelaide; South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute; and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
³ Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia, and Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
⁴ Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Cardiology Department, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Western Sydney Local Health District; Westmead Clinical School, The University of Sydney; and South West Clinical School, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁶ Djurali Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁷ Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁸ Australian Cardiovascular Alliance, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
⁹ Department of Cardiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital; and University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
¹⁰ Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, The University of Adelaide; South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute; and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia. Electronic address: prash.sanders@adelaide.edu.au.

PMID: 39244450
DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2024.08.008

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is highly prevalent in the Australian community, ranking amongst the highest globally. The consequences of AF are significant. Stroke, dementia and heart failure risk are increased substantially, hospitalisations are amongst the highest for all cardiovascular causes, and Australians living with AF suffer from substantial symptoms that impact quality of life. Australian research has made a significant impact at the global level in advancing the care of patients living with AF. However, new strategies are required to reduce the growing incidence of AF and its associated healthcare demand. The Australian Cardiovascular Alliance (ACvA) has led the development of an arrhythmia clinical theme with the objective of tackling major research priorities to achieve a reduction in AF burden across Australia. In this summary, we highlight these research priorities with particular focus on the strengths of Australian research and the strategies needed to move forward in reducing incident AF and improving outcomes for those who live with this chronic condition.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Catheter ablation; Electrophysiology; Genetics; Mechanisms; Prevention.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Atrial Fibrillation* / epidemiology
Atrial Fibrillation* / therapy
Australia / epidemiology
Biomedical Research
Humans
Quality of Life
Research