Latest figures show an additional 6,175 East Midlands patients at high risk of Atrial Fibrillation – a leading cause of serious stroke - are now on anticoagulation treatment.

This represents a 9.7% increase over 12 months and means the East Midlands has the highest anticoagulation treatment rate of any region in England.

These encouraging figures are published by NHS Digital ahead of Global AF Aware Week (19-25 November 2018).

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common forms of abnormal heart rhythm and a common cause of stroke – the third biggest cause of premature death in the UK. Every 15 seconds someone suffers an AF-related stroke, yet most can be prevented using appropriate anticoagulation therapy.

Around 450 strokes and 150 deaths are being avoided every year across the East Midlands thanks to a programme to diagnose and treat more patients with AF being led by the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN), in partnership with the East Midlands Clinical Network, Public Health England East Midlands, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), Health Education England (HEE), NHS Right Care, Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC), The British Heart Foundation, Heart Rhythm Alliance and The Stroke Association.

The initiative aims to improve the diagnosis of patients with AF by equipping GP practices across the region with electronic AF detection devices and supporting the AF Advance programme which aims to increase anti-coagulation treatment to prevent strokes.

Impressive statistics from the latest primary care Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) data returns (March 2018) include:

• Between March 2017 and March 2018, 5,665 additional people were diagnosed with AF
• The East Midlands is on track to hit its national target one year ahead of schedule – for 85% of AF patients to be diagnosed by March 2019 (as set by the National AHSN Network)
• The AHSN Network national target is for 84% of high risk AF patients to receive anticoagulation treatment by March 2020 - 18 out of the 19 Clinical Commissioning Groups in the East Midlands have already met the 84% national anticoagulation target
• East Midlands Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are performing well compared other CCGs across the country with 14 out of 19 in the top performing quartile (top 25%).
• The estimated impact of increasing the number of high risk AF patients receiving anticoagulation treatment between March 2017 and March 2018 is the prevention of an additional 167 strokes and 56 deaths - this represents NHS cost savings of £2.35m through avoided hospital admissions and savings to social care of £1.1m.

Dr Ken Deacon, Medical Director (North Midlands) at NHS England said: “Avoiding strokes through early detection of risk factors is incredibly effective in reducing one of the leading causes of preventable causes of death and disability. This important work will make a huge difference for many patients and their families.

“The AF Advance programme is simultaneously delivering improved patient outcomes and quality of life alongside cost savings to the health and care system. These latest figures show that the East Midlands is making huge progress in preventing strokes and demonstrate the power of effective, collaborative working across organisations and sectors.”

Professor Mike Hannay, Managing Director at the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network said: “We are delighted to be working with partners across the East Midlands to save lives through improved detection and management of AF.

“These fantastic results would not have been possible without the hard work of the Clinical Commissioning Groups and GP practices across the East Midlands who have been identifying patients at risk of stroke. Many have used the EMAHSN-funded mobile AF devices that can quickly detect abnormal heart rhythm to increase their diagnosis rates and get patients on the appropriate treatment more quickly.”

East Midlands Academic Health Science (EMAHSN) is one of 15 AHSNs nationwide supporting the national AHSN AF programme. QOF data for each AHSN region has been published as well as national data on AF detection and anti-coagulation rates.

Commenting on the national picture, Matt Kearney, National Clinical Director for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention for NHS England, said: “The recent increases in detection of AF and higher rates of anticoagulation demonstrated in the Quality and outcomes Framework data (2017/18) will make a major impact on reducing the burden of stroke.

“It is testament to the joint work of Public Health England, RightCare and the AHSN Network in supporting general practice and community teams to deliver better outcomes for patients with AF, driving the reduction in AF related strokes, which is saving lives and money. The AF pathway approach that the Academic Health Science Networks have been embedding within AF stroke prevention over recent years has been fundamental in helping to deliver this.”

The AF Association’s annual Global AF Aware Week (19-25 November 2018) raises awareness of atrial fibrillation, the most common arrhythmia (heart rhythm disturbance). This year, the AF Association is urging people to Know Your Pulse to Know Your Heart Rhythm, in order to detect AF early.

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Note to editors:

• The East Midlands has higher rates of Atrial Fibrillation than the England average (1.79% compared to 1.71%). AF rates range from 0.94% in the Leicester City CCG area to 2.46% in the Lincolnshire CCG area. There are a higher proportion of people aged 50 years and older in East Midlands compared with the national average and AF is more common the older you get.
• Having AF increases the risk of developing a blood clot inside the heart which can travel through your bloodstream to your brain and cause a stroke. AF can be treated by drugs called anticoagulants, which thin the blood to reduce the chance of clots forming.
• People are more likely to die if their stroke is caused by AF, and AF-related strokes also lead to longer hospital stays, increasing the costs of NHS treatment, social care and costs to patients and families.
• Currently people are tested for AF by a health professional checking their pulse by hand. Whilst this is effective, the new devices are more sensitive to pulse variations and allow patients to be tested quickly and easily at their local GP practice.
• The East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN) is one of 15 Academic Health Science Networks in England. EMAHSN brings together the NHS, universities, industry and social care to transform the health of the region’s 4.6M residents and stimulate wealth. Current priorities focus on identifying and spreading innovations that address challenges including cancer, diabetes, mental health, atrial fibrillation and liver disease. www.healthinnovation-em.org.uk
• East Midlands Clinical Networks enables patients, professionals and organisations to work together, across the East Midlands, on large and lasting programmes of quality improvement in four areas of major healthcare challenge. The network brings the right people and expertise together to help drive improvements (www.emsenate.nhs.uk).

Supporting partners

• British Heart Foundation, Stroke Association and Heart Rhythm Alliance
• Health Education England East Midlands (HEEEM)
• NHS Right Care
• NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) East Midlands
• Public Health England (PHE) East Midlands
• Pfizer