Action For Stroke Prevention (asp) Alliance

BRUSSELS, December 9 - - A report launched today by experts from medical and patient communities calls on Europe's policy makers to take urgent action against preventable strokes that strike thousands of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients each year - Affecting over six million people in Europe[1], AF, the most common, sustained abnormal heart rhythm, increases the risk of stroke five- fold[2] and is responsible for 15-20% of all strokes caused by blood clots (ischaemic stroke)[2],[3] - The consequences of stroke can devastate not only a patient's quality of life[4], but also that of families and carers[5] - The economic burden of stroke on the European economy is estimated at a staggering EUR 38 billion per annum[6] - The impact of stroke is predicted to rise dramatically as the number of individuals affected by AF is expected to increase 2.5 fold by 2050[7],[8] due to an ageing population[7] and improved survival of patients with conditions which predispose AF (e.g.