AFib, AI and heart-healthy diets: European Society of Cardiology previews EHRA 2022

ACC.22, the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology, isn’t the only industry conference taking place in early April: EHRA 2022, the yearly get-together hosted by the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), is scheduled for April 3-5 at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark.

EHRA 2022, a scientific congress hosted by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), is aimed at electrophysiologists and other heart specialists from all over the world. Topics will include atrial fibrillation (AFib) and other heart rhythm disorders, evolving technologies, AI, pediatric cardiology, obesity, diet and much more.

One area researchers have focused on in the last year is AI’s potential as a tool for predicting sudden death in patients who may be experiencing a heart rhythm issue.  

“The hope is that we can use these techniques to identify from an electrocardiogram (ECG) those at the highest risk of sudden death,” Isabelle C. Van Gelder, MD, PhD, a professor at University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands and scientific chair of the EHRA, said in a statement. “That would help us to select who should receive a defibrillator to prevent an untimely death.”

Attendees can also expect a sneak preview of the ESC’s upcoming ventricular tachycardia guidelines and an update on the relationships between a person’s diet and their risk of developing AFib and other significant disorders.

“Improving lifestyle is one of our best medicines,” Van Gelder added. “There is increasing evidence that body fat around the heart is able to infiltrate the heart and set the stage for arrhythmias. Adopting good habits is not easy, but it is incredibly important for maintaining health.”

Additional information on EHRA 2022, and a look at other upcoming EHRA and ESC conferences, is available here.

Related Heart Rhythm Content:

Screening older patients for AFib during regular care is feasible, but not productive

DOACs an effective substitute for VKAs after AFib patients undergo bioprosthetic valve replacement

Electrophysiologists debut new technology that builds interactive cardiac maps out of 12-lead ECGs

Cardiac MRI a powerful tool for predicting sudden cardiac death, arrhythmia after CIED implantation

Michael Walter
Michael Walter, Managing Editor

Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.

Around the web

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

Philips introduced a new CT system at ECR aimed at the rapidly growing cardiac CT market, incorporating numerous AI features to optimize workflow and image quality.

Trimed Popup
Trimed Popup