Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Choices Vary Widely Across European Hospitals

MALVERN, Pa., June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Arlington Medical Resources (AMR), a provider of premier market intelligence for the pharmaceutical and diagnostic imaging industries, finds that electrical cardioversion (ECV) usage patterns in Europe differed dramatically by country in the fourth quarter of 2009.  While ECV represented almost half of all cardioversion attempts in Germany, in Spain ECV accounted for only 13% of cardioversion attempts. Among the five countries studied, cardioversion attempts in the United Kingdom were the most evenly divided between ECV, oral and injectable pharmacological treatments.

The new audit entitled Hospital Atrial Fibrillation Market Guide is a comprehensive source for treatment information of atrial fibrillation in the European market. Released quarterly, the audit contains detailed clinical data from 10,000 hospitalized patients per year diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Survey results are projected to the national level for France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.

The audit also reveals that the top three oral antiarrhythmic drugs used for the maintenance or control of atrial fibrillation were Amiodarone (76% of patients), followed by Flecainade (9% of patients), and finally Sotalol (8% of patients) and that greater than 75% of patients in the study were admitted via the emergency room.

The Hospital Atrial Fibrillation Market Guide can help biopharmaceutical companies quantify targeted patient segments and understand treatment practices; better understand customers; and size commercial opportunity and formulate clinical development strategy.

About AMR

AMR (www.AMR-data.com) serves the market intelligence needs of the pharmaceutical and diagnostic imaging industries. Research includes clinical inpatient databases that directly link anti-infective drug with indication/procedure, formulary and stocking status tracking studies, drug purchasing audits and diagnostic imaging procedure volume/contrast media usage audits. AMR is a Decision Resources, Inc. company.

About Decision Resources, Inc.

Decision Resources, Inc. is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Please visit Decision Resources, Inc. at www.DecisionResourcesInc.com.

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SOURCE Decision Resources, Inc.