A HIGH-PROFILE European report is highlighting a project being pioneered in Bradford to help prevent strokes in people with a common heart rhythm disorder.

District GPs’ work with patients with a heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation (AF) – which can increase their risk of stroke – is being used as a best practice case study in the awareness-raising report going out to health workers and specialists Europe-wide.

Dr Matt Fay, a member of NHS Bradford Districts Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and an AF clinical specialist, has led the project across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven to make sure people with the disorder are offered the right treatments to reduce their chance of dying from strokes.

The project, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, has been rolled out by more than 60 GP practices across the district and has had dramatic results, he says - ultimately it could result in 200 fewer strokes in the area every year.

Across the three CCGs there are more than 6,000 patients living with AF. Of those, 5,000 are at moderate to high risk of stroke. Before the project started only 2,300 were being prescribed anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin, as a precautionary measure.

Thanks to the project – believed to be the first of its kind in the UK – hundreds more patients are being targeted and are now being prescribed anticoagulants and ultimately it will result in 200 fewer strokes each year in the Bradford district.

New guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) also backs Bradford’s work by advising GPs throughout the country that blood-thinning drugs like warfarin are better for patients with AF.

"AF is the second most important risk factor for stroke after blood pressure and causes at least one in every five strokes," said Dr Fay."

AF strokes are the most debilitating and lead to more permanent disability – so it’s vital that as many GPs and other health professionals are aware of best practice to help prevent them.

"The good news is that we know when prescribed anticoagulant drugs, these strokes can be avoided. This is really important as AF is on the rise with an ageing population,"

And he added: “I’m delighted that Bradford’s work is included in this report. We know that we are making a big difference locally and I’m sure that many other countries would also benefit from following our lead, just as we’re constantly learning from colleagues who are finding new ways to tackle AF-related strokes.”

AF is a major cause of stroke because it often leads to the formation of blood clots and increases the risk of strokes by up to five times. It is estimated that the condition causes about 12,500 strokes nationally each year.

MORE HEALTH HEADLINES