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New Study Shows Central Blood Pressure Is a Superior Predictor of Development of Atrial Fibrillation
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ITASCA, IL -- (Marketwire) -- 11/12/08 -- AtCor Medical (ASX: ACG), the developer andmarketer of the SphygmoCor® system which measures central blood pressuresand arterial stiffness noninvasively, today announced that a new study*funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found that centralpulse pressure is a stronger independent predictor of the first onset ofatrial fibrillation (AF) than well established clinical andechocardiographic risk factors. AF, a condition in which the upperchambers of the heart beat erratically, affects an estimated 2 millionpeople in the United States alone and is particularly common in olderpeople.
Results of the 800-patient study, which utilized AtCor's SphygmoCor system,were unveiled yesterday at the annual American Heart Association ScientificSessions in New Orleans.
"This Mayo Clinic study shows that every 20mm of mercury increase incentral pulse pressure represented a near doubling of the risk ofdeveloping atrial fibrillation," said Duncan Ross, AtCor Medical Presidentand CEO. "We anticipate this will spur further interest in examining therole elevated central pressure may play in the onset of AF, laying thegroundwork for potential identification of patients at risk andintervention strategies. Study after study shows the importance ofnoninvasive central pressure assessment in identifying patients at highrisk for cardiovascular events."
Atrial fibrillation is a common heart problem which is caused bydisturbance of the heart's electrical system and, if not detected andcorrectly treated, can result in significant problems, including stroke andheart failure. Approximately 3.8% of persons over 60 have AF and 9% ofthose 80 or older experience AF. The disorder poses a major health andeconomic challenge in all developed countries with aging populations.
"Early identification of cardiovascular risk offers significant benefits topatients, as well as cost benefits to health care systems worldwide. Themodel of treating disease after full onset is no longer sustainable," Rosssaid. "Noninvasive central pressure assessment is vitally important inthis effort."
About AtCor Medical
AtCor Medical develops and markets products for the early detection ofcardiovascular risk and management of cardiovascular disease. Itstechnology allows researchers and clinicians to measure central bloodpressure noninvasively. The company's SphygmoCor® system visiblyidentifies the effects of reflected blood pressure in the central aorticpressure wave, effects which cannot be detected with standard bloodpressure monitoring. More than 1,700 SphygmoCor systems are currently inuse worldwide at major medical centers, research institutions and invarious clinical trial with leading pharmaceutical companies. Thecompany's technology has been featured in over 400 peer-reviewed studiespublished in leading medical journals. AtCor has operations in Australia,the United States and Europe. For more information, please visit our website at www.atcormedical.com.
*Teresa S. Tang et al. Central Pulse Pressure As A Robust Predictor ofFirst Atrial Fibrillation: Study of Atrial Fibrillation in High RiskElderly (SAFFIHRE) Circulation 118:S_1106-a
For further information, please contactLarry WattsAtCor Medical630-228-8875
"This Mayo Clinic study shows that every 20mm of mercury increase incentral pulse pressure represented a near doubling of the risk ofdeveloping atrial fibrillation," said Duncan Ross, AtCor Medical Presidentand CEO. "We anticipate this will spur further interest in examining therole elevated central pressure may play in the onset of AF, laying thegroundwork for potential identification of patients at risk andintervention strategies. Study after study shows the importance ofnoninvasive central pressure assessment in identifying patients at highrisk for cardiovascular events."
Atrial fibrillation is a common heart problem which is caused bydisturbance of the heart's electrical system and, if not detected andcorrectly treated, can result in significant problems, including stroke andheart failure. Approximately 3.8% of persons over 60 have AF and 9% ofthose 80 or older experience AF. The disorder poses a major health andeconomic challenge in all developed countries with aging populations.
"Early identification of cardiovascular risk offers significant benefits topatients, as well as cost benefits to health care systems worldwide. Themodel of treating disease after full onset is no longer sustainable," Rosssaid. "Noninvasive central pressure assessment is vitally important inthis effort."
About AtCor Medical
AtCor Medical develops and markets products for the early detection ofcardiovascular risk and management of cardiovascular disease. Itstechnology allows researchers and clinicians to measure central bloodpressure noninvasively. The company's SphygmoCor® system visiblyidentifies the effects of reflected blood pressure in the central aorticpressure wave, effects which cannot be detected with standard bloodpressure monitoring. More than 1,700 SphygmoCor systems are currently inuse worldwide at major medical centers, research institutions and invarious clinical trial with leading pharmaceutical companies. Thecompany's technology has been featured in over 400 peer-reviewed studiespublished in leading medical journals. AtCor has operations in Australia,the United States and Europe. For more information, please visit our website at www.atcormedical.com.
*Teresa S. Tang et al. Central Pulse Pressure As A Robust Predictor ofFirst Atrial Fibrillation: Study of Atrial Fibrillation in High RiskElderly (SAFFIHRE) Circulation 118:S_1106-a
For further information, please contactLarry WattsAtCor Medical630-228-8875
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