About our Project

This project is being carried out as part of a PhD project supported by the Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and is a joint venture between Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals.

 

The Problem

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained heart rhythm problem. People with AF are at increased risk of conditions such as heart failure and stroke. Often it has no symptoms and so many people may be unaware of their condition meaning potentially life-saving therapies may be delayed. Screening everyone at a certain age for AF is not cost effective, but checking for signs of AF during other routine tests (such as during blood pressure measurements) is cost effective.

 

 

Our Solution

Many blood pressure (BP) monitors rely on pulse detection. Some manufacturers have developed BP devices which can analyse the pulse for signs of AF. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is a common test which involves wearing a BP monitor for 24 hours. This may provide additional opportunities for AF screening because signs of AF may not be present all the time. The aim of this study is to find out if ABPM is a feasible method for AF screening.