Atrial fibrillation (AF) remains a major health challenge: Despite the progress made in the last decade, AF contributes to mortality and morbidity and the treatment of AF and its complications requires between 1-3% of the overall health care expenditure. In addition, AF contributes to cognitive decline and dementia. Exciting new insights into AF management led to new approaches to treatment and to the redesign of care pathways, e.g. integrated AF management, better AF ablation, new antiarrhythmic drugs and new approaches for stroke prevention. The basic principles of scientific methodology still apply, calling for evaluation of each major innovation in controlled trials.
We may be at the cusp of clinical evaluation of stratified therapy for patients with AF. Research spanning the shape and conformation of single molecules (genes or proteins), signalling pathways in cells and in atrial tissue, complex disease modelling, and “big data” analyses has identified novel disease mechanisms and defined pathophysiologically different types of AF. The first concepts may soon be ready for validation and clinical testing through novel, stratified ways to deliver therapy. These concepts require discussion in a clinical context and thorough evaluation in patients.
The digital revolution provides access to information for everyone, reinforcing the need for trusted sources of medical information. Digital technologies also enable the capture and analysis of physiological data at unprecedented scale, enabling e.g. screening for rare and short episodes of atrial arrhythmias. We need to evaluate these sensors, and reevaluate the question “What constitutes a diagnosis of AF?”.
We want to discuss these developments during the 7th AFNET/EHRA Consensus Conference. Please come to “The Pestana Palace Lisboa” in Lisbon, Portugal, from 14th March (arrival in the evening) to 16th March 2019 for two days of intensive and interactive discussions with international experts, including break- out sessions in smaller groups. All participants will actively contribute to the plenary and the breakout sessions. The aim is to produce a document based on the consensus achieved at this meeting.
Venue: The Pestana Palace Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Dates: 14-16 March 2019
Please read here the preliminary programme.
Scientific organisers
- Prof. Paulus Kirchhof, Birmingham, UK
- Prof. Ulrich Schotten, Maastricht, NL
- Prof. Hein Heidbuchel, Leuven, BE
- Prof. Gerhard Hindricks, Leipzig, DE
Our mission: To reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.