AF Consensus Conferences

a joint initiative of the German AFNET and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), a registered branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

Second Joint AFNET/EHRA Consensus Conference on Research Perspectives for Diagnosis and Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

The 2nd AFNET-EHRA consensus conference on “Research Perspectives in Atrial Fibrillation” gathered over 70 participants – invited scientists and participants from industry – in the European Heart House in Sophia Antipolis, France, on October 27th and 28th. The conference was funded by AFNET and EHRA and organized by Günter Breithardt, John Camm, Harry Crijns, and Paulus Kirchhof. Experts discussed recent developments concerning anticoagulation, antiarrhythmic drug treatment, surgical and catheter ablation, ECG monitoring, management of risk factors for AF and AF-related complications, pathophysiological factors that cause the arrhythmias, and novel therapeutic goals. The proceedings of the conference will be published in a position paper next year.

group picture

Group picture taken during the conference (to enlarge click here)

The results of the 2nd joint AFNET/EHRA consensus conference were scientifically published in the following papers:

  • Kirchhof P, Bax J, Blomstrom-Lundquist C, Calkins H, Camm AJ, Cappato R, Cosio F, Crijns H, Diener HC, Goette A, Israel CW, Kuck KH, Lip G, Nattel S, Page R, Ravens U, Schotten U, Steinbeck G, Vardas P, Waldo A, Wegscheider K, Willems S, Breithardt G. Early and comprehensive management of AF: Proceedings from the 2nd AFNET-EHRA consensus conference on atrial fibrillation entitled “research perspectives in AF”. Europace 2009 Jun 16
  • Kirchhof P, Bax J, Blomstrom-Lundquist C, Calkins H, Camm AJ, Cappato R, Cosio F, Crijns H, Diener HC, Goette A, Israel CW, Kuck KH, Lip G, Nattel S, Page R, Ravens U, Schotten U, Steinbeck G, Vardas P, Waldo A, Wegscheider K, Willems S, Breithardt G. Early and comprehensive management of AF: Exectuvie summary of the proceedings from the 2nd AFNET-EHRA consensus conference “research perspectives in AF”. Eur Heart J 2009 Jun 17

press release in English
press release in German

The results were presented at the ESC congress 2009 in Barcelona in the symposium "The future of atrial fibrillation therapy: the 2nd AFNET/EHRA consensus conference"

The ESC Newsletter reported on the consensus conference

AFNET and EHRA announced the consensus conference in a joint press release on June 23rd, 2008
press release in English
press release in German

First Joint AFNET/EHRA Consensus Conference on Endpoints for Trials in Atrial Fibrillation

January 22/23, 2007, European Heart House, Sophia Antipolis France

The results of the consensus conference were scientifically published in the following papers:

  • Outcome Parameters for trials in atrial fibrillation – Recommendations from a consensus conference organized by the German Atrial Fibrillation Competence Network (AFNET) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA);
    P. Kirchhof, A. Auricchio, J. Bax, H. Crijns, J. Camm, H. C. Diener, A. Goette, G. Hindricks, S. Hohnloser, L. Kappenberger, K. H. Kuck, G. Y. Lip, B. Olsson, T. Meinertz, S. Priori, U. Ravens, G. Steinbeck, E. Svernhage, J. Tijssen, A. Vincent and G. Breithardt, Europace 2007; 9: 1006-1023
  • Outcome parameters for trials in atrial fibrillation: executive summary:
    Recommendations from a consensus conference organized by the German Atrial Fibrillation Competence Network (AFNET) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA);
    P. Kirchhof, A. Auricchio, J. Bax, H. Crijns, J. Camm, H. C. Diener, A. Goette, G. Hindricks, S. Hohnloser, L. Kappenberger, K. H. Kuck, G. Y. Lip, B. Olsson, T. Meinertz, S. Priori, U. Ravens, G. Steinbeck, E. Svernhage, J. Tijssen, A. Vincent and G. Breithardt, Eur Heart J 2007; 28: 2803-2817

Abstract:

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common atrial arrhythmia, has a complex aetiology and causes relevant morbidity and mortality due to different mechanisms, including but not limited to stroke, heart failure, and tachy- or bradyarrhythmia. Current therapeutic options (rate control, rhythm control, antithrombotic therapy, 'upstream therapy') only prevent a part of this burden of disease. Several new treatment modalities are therefore under evaluation in controlled trials. Given the multifold clinical consequences of AF, trials in AF patients should assess the effect of therapy in each of the main outcome domains. This paper describes an expert consensus of required outcome parameters in seven relevant outcome domains, namely death, stroke, symptoms and quality of life, rhythm, left ventricular function, cost, and emerging outcome parameters. In addition to these 'requirements' for outcome assessment in AF trials, further, more detailed outcome parameters are described. In addition to a careful selection of a relevant primary outcome parameter, coverage of outcomes in all major domains of AF-related morbidity and mortality is desirable for any clinical trial in AF.