2013-06

Increasing Public Awareness of Risks of Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH E. MIRÓ (DE) HEALTH CARE TASK FORCE

WHEREAS, atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common type of irregular heartbeat, consists of two types, nonvalvular AF (NVAF) and valvular AF; and

WHEREAS, NVAF makes up approximately 95 percent of AF, affecting an estimated 5.8 million people in the U.S.; and

WHEREAS, individuals with NVAF have five times greater risk of stroke, and about 15 percent of strokes are due to NVAF; and

WHEREAS, stroke is the fourth leading cause of death as well as a leading cause of long-term disability in the U.S., accounting for 1 in every 19 deaths in 2009; and

WHEREAS, Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death among Hispanics and studies indicate that Hispanics have a higher rate of hemorrhagic strokes at a younger age than Caucasians; and

WHEREAS, in 2010, the total cost of cardiovascular diseases in the U.S. was estimated at $444 billion, and treatment of these diseases accounts for about $1 of every $6 spent on health care in this country; and

WHEREAS, as of 2005, NVAF alone cost an estimated $6.65 billion per year, with nearly 75 percent of those direct and indirect costs associated with hospitalization; and

WHEREAS, NVAF is a serious health issue deserving attention from state health officials; an increase in community awareness of NVAF can improve the likelihood that people with NVAF will seek the treatment they need before suffering from devastating consequences; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that in order to improve public health and ultimately save taxpayer dollars, we hereby urge Members of Congress and the Administration to increase public awareness of the risks posed by nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and stroke and the availability of treatment options.

THIS RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED ON JULY 13, 2013, AT THE NHCSL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN MASHANTUCKET, CONNECTICUT AND RATIFIED ON NOVEMBER 16, 2013 AT THE NHCSL ANNUAL MEETING HELD IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA.

SPONSORED BY: Representative Joseph E. Miró (DE)