[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 82 (Tuesday, June 15, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1116-E1117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              STROKE TREATMENT AND ONGOING PREVENTION ACT

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                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 14, 2004

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3658 Stroke 
Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act. I urge the Secretary

[[Page E1117]]

to also consider that atrial fibrillation is the leading cause of 
severe stroke, but if properly treated, the risk of stroke can be 
dramatically reduced. Atrial fibrillation causes only 15 percent of all 
stroke, however it leads to a much higher rate of debilitating outcomes 
for patients resulting in their need for long-term care and increasing 
the burden on our health care system.
  Atrial fibrillation is a condition where the atrium of the heart does 
not pump blood out properly into the ventricle causing the blood to 
pool in the atrial chamber. The pooling leads to the formation of 
clots, which can break off and travel into the arteries and to the 
brain where it may lodge causing a severe stroke.
  Atrial fibrillation currently affects over 2.3 million people in the 
United States. However, the number of those effected will increase 
significantly as the population ages and improvements in the treatment 
of other forms of heart disease are made, extending their life 
expectancy but increasing their chances of developing atrial 
fibrillation.
  The Committee urges the Secretary to recognize that strokes caused by 
atrial fibrillation are preventable through the use of anticoagulation 
medications. The use of anticoagulation medications have been shown to 
reduce the risk of stroke caused by atrial fibrillation by over 68 
percent. The American Heart Association, American College of 
Cardiology, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of 
Physicians and American Academy of Family Practitioners have all issued 
guidelines stressing the importance of stroke prevention in atrial 
fibrillation by the proper use of anticoagulation therapy.
  However, a significant number of patients who should be on 
anticoagulation therapy do not receive the proper medication. Given the 
severity of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation and the ability 
of the proper care to prevent strokes it is important that health care 
professionals are educated about the current guidelines for treatment 
and there is an increased public awareness of atrial fibrillation.

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