Daiichi Sankyo announces the recruitment of the first patient in the European register on atrial fibrillation PREFER in AF

-More than 5,000 patients with atrial fibrillation from seven European countries, among them Spain, will participate in the registry whose goal is to improve knowledge about one of the main causes of stroke in the continent

January 2012.- Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH has announced the recruitment of the first patient of the PREFER registration in AF (PREvention oF thromboembolic events – European Registry in Atrial Fibrillation)(, i.e. Prevention of thrombotic events – European register in fibrillation headset). PREFER in AF is a new approach in the register of cases of atrial fibrillation (AF), since it will cover all kinds of patients, both those who suffer from heart valve types such as the no valve of this condition. The registry will also analyze the impact of new anticoagulant therapy in the prevention of stroke, as well as collect data on the degree of satisfaction of the patients with treatment, have a greater knowledge of how it affects the FA to the quality of life of those who suffer from it and make a more accurate estimation of the economic impact of the disease in Europe.

More than 5,000 patients from seven European countries

In 2010 the World Heart Federation stressed the need to develop new international registrations to help complete knowledge about the handling of the FA. PREFER in AF seeks to respond to this medical necessity through the recruitment of more than 5,000 patients from seven European countries: Spain, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, United Kingdom and Switzerland.

The data extracted from PREFER in AF will be representative at the country level and will provide relevant information from the point of view of health economics, both on the pharmacological treatment of the FA, and complications arising from diseaseincluding admissions, which will allow to estimate the real cost of the FA for European health systems. Dr. José Luis Zamorano, co-Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the PREFER registration in AF and Director of the Institute Cardiovascular of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos Madrid, explains in this respect: the potential impact of the FA in the citizens of Europe is very high and it is estimated that the number of people affected will increase in coming years. PREFER in AF will provide great value data on the current approach of the FA and the health and economic impact of this condition, which will indicate where we must go in the treatment of patients with FA ”.

Today, the FA treatment paradigm is changing, so the data arising from the registration will help to establish if the current treatment options are being used properly in clinical practice and contribute to that patients can develop a normal life. In this regard, Dr. Zamorano added: the essence of this record is that it focuses on the quality of life of the patient and their level of satisfaction with treatment, both key factors to be considered for an optimal patient care. When patients are satisfied with their treatment, follow him properly and this is especially important in F, a condition associated with high morbidity and mortality ”.

Atrial fibrillation: one of the main causes of stroke

The FA is one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization among the ailments of the corazónii. It is the kind of more common in clinical practice cardiac arrhythmia and affects between 1 and 2 per cent of the general population. The FA is also one of the main causes of ictusii and, moreover, should be noted that the stroke associated with the FA are more severe and have a worse prognosis than those who are not related to the FA.

Daiichi Sankyo, leading company in research and development of innovative therapeutic solutions to cardiovascular diseases, collaborates with the implementation underway PREFER registry in AF. Reinhard Bauer, CEO of Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH, explains on the beginning of the registry: Daiichi Sankyo is proud to sponsor this valuable observational study of patients with FA. The registry is an example of our continued commitment to the development of medical solutions that will make it possible to improve the treatment of patients with FA, as well as learn more about what the real impact of this disease on patients, physicians and healthcare systems ”.

On PREFER in AF

PREFER in AF is a prospective, multicenter observational record with one year of follow-up. The sample shall be representative of all types of patients with FA without exclusion criteria, and regardless of whether they have anticoagulant therapy or not.

On the headset fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is defined as an abnormal heart rhythm. The heart has four cavities, two Atria and two ventricles. The Atria pump blood into the ventricles inside and the ventricles pump blood to the rest of the body by there what must be well coordinated to make the heart pump blood efficiently in every heartbeat.

A normal heart pumped blood with a regular rhythm; the heartbeat may be fast or slow, but the interval between heartbeat is the same. When a person suffers FA produced numerous electrical impulses in the cardiac muscle of the Atria that neutralize the timer ” natural which controls the heart. When this occurs, the Atria contract quickly but only partially, and as a result, the heart pumps less efficiently.

For this reason, blood is not properly pumped from the Atria causing it stagnate and clots. These blood clots can break and travel through the bloodstream to the brain where it could cause a stroke.

About Daiichi Sankyo

The Daiichi Sankyo group is dedicated to research and supply of innovative pharmaceutical products, both in mature markets as emerging, they face various medical needs of patients who are not yet covered. The company was created in 2005 through the merger of two Japanese companies of long tradition and Daiichi Sankyo. Daiichi Sankyo is one of world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. In parallel with the maintenance of its drugs for hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, and bacterial infections, the group is focused on the development of treatments for disorders thrombotic, in research in Oncology as well as new therapies in the cardiovascular area and metabolism. On the other hand, the Daiichi Sankyo group has created a hybrid business model , which responds to the diversity of the market and customer seeking to optimize the opportunities for growth in the value chain.

The company’s global headquarters is in Tokyo. Its European base, Daiichi Sankyo Europe, is in Munich and has subsidiaries in 12 European countries as well as a plant of global manufacturing in Pfaffenhofen (Germany).

For more information, please visit www.daiichi-sankyo.es