CPPE Atrial fibrillation: improve detection and person-centred care - focal point, online evening event

CPPE Caroline Barraclough Sue Smith Meera Joshi Penny Mosley

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, with an overall population prevalence in England of around 2.5 percent. In 2016, approximately 1.4 million people in England were living with AF. Of these 425,000 were estimated to be undiagnosed and untreated.1 Prevalence was higher in men (2.9 percent) than in women (2.0 percent). (1)

The most concerning fact is the high number of undiagnosed and therefore untreated people with AF: It is estimated that there are at least 270,000 people aged over 65 with undiagnosed (or silent) atrial fibrillation in the UK. (2)

This is concerning because of the following key statistics:

• People with AF are five times more likely to have a stroke. (2)
• AF is a contributing factor in 20 percent of all strokes. (2)
• People treated with anticoagulants reduced their risk of stroke by about two-thirds. (3)

The CPPE Atrial fibrillation: improve detection and person-centred care - focal point will enable you to improve the detection of AF in your role and provide person-centred care to support people with atrial fibrillation to self-manage their condition.?

After completing this focal point programme, you should be able to:

• describe how you can work collaboratively to improve the detection of people with AF
• support people by taking a person-centred approach to the prevention of stroke and risks associated with AF n demonstrate a shared decision-making approach to consultations to support people with AF
• apply clinical guidance in practice to support people with medicines optimisation for AF
• empower people to make lifestyle changes and reduce modifiable risk factors to help prevent further complications associated with AF

This will be relevant to those supporting people to start medicines for AF, in general practice, hospitals and within the community pharmacy New Medicine Service. This will also be also be relevant to those reviewing people with AF as a long-term condition.

Materials and case-studies cover diagnosis of AF, starting anticoagulants and medicines to control heart rate and heart rhythm, as detailed in NICE guidance NG196 and communication with the person who has AF at each stage. Materials also cover when warfarin rather than a DOAC is needed and how to effectively communicate this to the person with AF. It also covers how best to have conversations with people who are not compliant with treatment.

TI am running this online, evening event with fellow CPPE tutor Sue Smith on 30th January and there are other dates available. To find out more and to book your place go to Atrial fibrillation: improve detection and person-centred care - focal point : CPPE