Atrial Fibrillation Resolution, S. Res. 243, passes unanimously in the US Senate

Atrial Fibrillation Resolution, S. Res. 243, passes unanimously in the US Senate

August 10, 2011

  • Summary: StopAfib.org applauds US Senate passage by unanimous consent of the Atrial Fibrillation Resolution (S. Res. 243) to promote atrial fibrillation awareness, diagnosis, and treatment
  • Reading time: 1–2 minutes

Great news! The US Senate has passed the Atrial Fibrillation Resolution (S. Res. 243) by unanimous consent. The resolution, introduced by Sen. Michael Crapo [R-ID] and co-introducers Sen. Robert Casey [D-PA], Sen. Daniel Inouye [D-HI], Sen. Daniel Akaka [D-HI], Sen. Marco Rubio [R-FL], and Sen. Patrick Toomey [R-PA], promotes increased awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of atrial fibrillation. See the resolution text below for more details.

Now we need your help to get the House of Representatives to pass the Atrial Fibrillation Resolution (H. Res. 295). Please go to Atrial Fibrillation Resolution, H. Res. 295, Introduced in the US House of Representatives to learn more about the House resolution. You can also see the list of current sponsors to identify whether your representative has signed on. At the bottom of that page, you can register your support to be delivered directly to your representative. It only takes a minute to do so. Please consider including a short message to let your representative know why this is important to you. After you have done so, you can view your message and what others have written as well.

 


 

112th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 243

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.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 29, 2011

Mr. CRAPO (for himself, Mr. CASEY, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. AKAKA, Mr. RUBIO, and Mr. TOOMEY) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

 


 

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.

Whereas atrial fibrillation is a cardiac condition that results when the usual coordinated electrical activity in the atria of the heart becomes disorganized and chaotic, hampering the ability of the atria to fill the ventricles with blood, and allowing blood to pool in the atria and form clots;

Whereas an estimated 2,500,000 people in the United States are living with atrial fibrillation, the most common ‘serious’ heart rhythm abnormality that occurs in people older than 65 years of age;

Whereas atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased long-term risk of stroke, heart failure, and all-cause mortality, especially among women;

Whereas people older than 40 years of age have a 1-in-4 risk of developing atrial fibrillation in their lifetime;

Whereas an estimated 15 percent of strokes are the result of untreated atrial fibrillation, a condition that dramatically increases the risk of stroke to approximately 5 times more than the general population;

Whereas atrial fibrillation accounts for approximately 529,000 hospital discharges annually;

Whereas atrial fibrillation costs an estimated $3,600 per patient for a total cost burden in the United States of $15,700,000,000;

Whereas better patient and health care provider education is needed for the timely recognition of atrial fibrillation symptoms;

Whereas an electrocardiogram is an effective and risk-free screen for heart rhythm irregularities and can be part of a routine preventive exam;

Whereas there is a dearth of outcome performance measures that focus on the management of atrial fibrillation; and

Whereas evidence-based care guidelines improve patient outcomes and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations for individuals with undiagnosed atrial fibrillation and for patients once atrial fibrillation is detected: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Health and Human Services should work with leaders in the medical community to explore ways to improve medical research, screening and prevention methods, and surveillance efforts in order to prevent and appropriately manage atrial fibrillation, including by–

(1) advancing the development of process and outcome measures for the management of atrial fibrillation by national developers;

(2) facilitating the adoption of evidence-based guidelines by the medical community to improve patient outcomes;

(3) advancing atrial fibrillation research and education by–

(A) encouraging basic science research to determine the causes and optimal treatments for atrial fibrillation;

(B) exploring development of screening tools and protocols to determine the risk of developing atrial fibrillation; and

(C) enhancing current surveillance and tracking systems to include atrial fibrillation; and

(4) improving access to appropriate medical care for patients suffering from atrial fibrillation by encouraging education programs that promote collaboration among the Federal health agencies and that increase public and clinician awareness of atrial fibrillation, including risk assessment, screening, treatment, and appropriate clinical management.


To register your support of the AF Resolution in the US House of Representatives (to get it out of committee and to the House floor for a vote), go to Atrial Fibrillation Resolution, H. Res. 295, Introduced in the US House of Representatives—see the bottom of the page. It only takes a minute to show your support.