The first patient has been enrolled, in Hamburg, Germany, for a pan-European study to determine whether an early comprehensive rhythm control strategy for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) will benefit patients.
The European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), and the German Competence Network on Atrial Fibrillation (AFNET), and industry partners have joined forces to conduct the EAST (Early Comprehensive Atrial Fibrillation Stroke Prevention Trial). The study aims to determine whether an early standardised rhythm control therapy could help prevent adverse cardiovascular outcomes associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), including stroke and death. More specifically the study will evaluate whether an early and comprehensive rhythm control treatment of patients, with early onset AF leads to better patient outcomes than usual care alone. Commenting on the need for such a study, Professor Dr Paulus Kirchhof, coordinating investigator of the trial said: “It is based on the observation that insufficient, non-structured and delayed therapy of the multiple factors that maintain AF and cause its complications has most likely contributed to the limited effectiveness of rhythm control interventions in past trials. This trial takes an important step forward to learn more about the value of rhythm control therapy to improve the lives of AF patients.”
