Around one hundred people a month in England have avoided a
stroke over the last year thanks to a lifesaving NHS rollout of
blood thinning medication.
Over the last year, one million people with Atrial Fibrillation
(AF) – a condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally
fast heartbeat – have been prescribed anticoagulant medication
(also known as blood thinners) that helps to protect them against
stroke.
Around 40 strokes a day in England are thought to be related to
AF but thanks to this NHS intervention, estimates show around a
hundred strokes a month over the last year have been prevented.
In total, 1,200 strokes have been avoided between 2023 and 2024
and a huge 9,000 strokes prevented over the last five years.
The use of the anticoagulant medication was dramatically scaled
up by staff to ensure those diagnosed with AF were on the right
therapies at the right dose, thanks to a series of innovative and
cost saving NHS drug deals agreed three years ago.
Evidence shows that the treatment can reduce stroke risk by two
thirds as well as greatly reducing the harms caused by these
types of strokes.
The NHS has also been focusing on better detection of people with
undiagnosed AF through increased pulse checks and the use of
mobile ECG devices to detect irregular heartbeats in community
settings.
The drive comes alongside a major new NHS campaign launched last
month, urging the public to call 999 immediately if anyone
experiences one of the three most common symptoms of strokes
including struggling to smile (Face) or raise an
arm (Arms), or slurring their words
(Speech).
Helen , National Clinical Director for
Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, NHS England,
said: “By delivering anticoagulation treatment to
the vast majority of at risk people with atrial fibrillation, we
are protecting them from fatal or disabling strokes - this is
fantastic news for thousands of people across the country.
“NHS teams across both primary and secondary care have supported
the rapid roll out of these drugs – five years earlier than we
initially set out to do - and our aim is to replicate this
success for patients at risk of or living with other
cardiovascular conditions."
“That is why are also working hard to boost better detection and
treatment of people with high blood pressure and drive
better uptake of lipid lowering therapies like statins, which can
further help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, heart
attacks and strokes, and ultimately save many more lives.”
Lipid lowering therapies include medicines that lower production
of cholesterol such as statins, as well as other drugs that work
by increasing clearance of cholesterol or lowering its absorption
from the gut.
Five years ago, the NHS set the ambition to increase the number
of patients who had been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and
were on anticoagulant medication from 84% to 90% within 10 years.
The latest figures show that 92% of people who have been
diagnosed with atrial fibrillation have been prescribed the
potentially lifesaving treatment.
