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Stroke Atrial fibrillation, a scourge to fight

At the origin of half of so-called ischemic strokes, this heart rhythm disorder must be better known to the French.

Every year, 150,000 French people suffer a stroke, and 30,000 die from it1. Despite continuous improvement in care, stroke remains a major public health challenge, not least because its incidence increases with the aging of the population.

In addition to the risk of death, stroke is the leading cause of acquired disability in adults1, with serious sequelae that can significantly alter the quality of life of patients. Alongside associations and healthcare professionals, Boehringer Ingelheim works on a daily basis to promote information on stroke, support the screening of risk factors and develop cardiovascular prevention, but also to raise awareness of atrial fibrillation (AF), a form of cardiac arrhythmia that causes 50% of ischemic strokes.2, which account for 80% of stroke cases3.

Promoting more systematic
screening Poorly known to the general public, AF affects between 900,000 and 1.5 million people in France6. It results in an increase in heart rate (up to 150 beats per minute, compared to 60 to 100 per minute for a normal resting heart rate). If it is not fatal in itself, it increases the risk of stroke by five.4. "Atrial fibrillation is most often discovered around the time of stroke," said Ed Hollywood, general manager of Boehringer Ingelheim's Human Health Division in France. It is therefore essential to promote more systematic screening for this disease. »

ed_2

"One in two French people today does not
know the warning signs of stroke.
However, the sooner the symptoms are identified,
the faster the patient can be treated. »

Ed Hollywood

 

The warning signs must be able to be identified more easily by the French: heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue... This is all the more necessary because AF is easy to diagnose: all it takes is an electrocardiogram from a cardiologist to establish it. And treatments exist: antiarrhythmics, or even removal of AF in patients eligible to return to a regular heart rhythm, and anticoagulant treatments to thin the blood to limit the risk of stroke in patients with one or more risk factors.

Stroke: Contributing to better care
In addition to contributing to the fight against AF, Boehringer Ingelheim is very committed to stroke patients. "We have a Facebook community, Taking Action in the Heart of Stroke, which has more than 61,000 followers," says Ed Hollywood. We regularly organize information sessions and exchange forums.
The laboratory also conducts information campaigns, organizes travelling exhibitions in hospitals and works with professionals to improve stroke care.
"Engagement with healthcare professionals and the public is fundamental," says Ed Hollywood. One in two French people today does not know the warning signs of stroke5. However, the sooner symptoms are identified, the sooner the patient can be treated. » Stroke is a medical emergency.

A civic role for public
health Reducing the incidence of stroke, but also providing the best possible support to patients who have suffered it: this is another of the missions at the heart of the laboratory's commitment.
Because the rehabilitation of a stroke patient is often long and complex, with heavy rehabilitation activities and the need to take lifelong drug treatments. "We need to train these patients in the proper use of these drugs," says Ed Hollywood. Studies show that patients who are well informed about their anticoagulant therapy are five times less likely to have bleeding complications7.» Boehringer Ingelheim's involvement illustrates one of the roles of pharmaceutical companies in dealing with chronic diseases: to contribute, through their expertise on medicines and their operational know-how, to the development of a true culture of prevention in France, but also to the continuous improvement of patients' health pathways.

Pierre Mongis

  1. https://solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/soins-et-maladies/maladies/maladies-cardiovasculaires/accident-vasculaire-cerebral-avc/article/la-prise-en-charge-des-avc
  2. Moran J.F. Chapter 9 – "Neurologic complications of cardiomyopathies and other myocardial disorders". Handbook of Clinicalneurology 2014; 119 : 111-128. 
  3. https://www.franceavc.com/page/avc-infos
  4. https://www.fedecardio.org
  5. Ipsos study - The French and stroke 2e wave of the National Observatory for Stroke Prevention.
  6. HAS. Transparency Commission. Oral Anticoagulant Drug Review Report 2018. www.has-sante.fr
  7. Kagansky N., Knobler H., Rimon E., Ozer A., Levy S. Safety of Anticoagulation Therapy in Well-informed Older Patients. Arch.Intern.Med. 2004; 164 : 2044-2050.

Article extracted from the Wide Angle special cardiology file, produced by CommEdition, published in Le Monde dated September 29, 2020.

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