MURRAY, Utah (ABC4 Utah) – A new study by researchers at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City finds that 40 percent of newly diagnosed heart failure patients also have atrial fibrillation – a combination of cardiac disorders that researchers found results in significantly poorer outcomes for patients.
Findings from the Intermountain Health study demonstrate the need for physicians to screen newly diagnosed heart failure patients for atrial fibrillation to ensure patients are getting the best care possible, researchers said.
“Atrial fibrillation can make heart failure much more problematic, and more complex to treat,” said Heidi T. May, PhD, principal investigator of the study and cardiovascular epidemiologist at Intermountain Health. “Given these findings, screening in heart failure patients for atrial fibrillation should be ongoing, which may lead to more aggressive therapy for those who have both conditions.”…