© Christian Sticherling, Michael Kühne 2023
Study Objectives
Cognitive
dysfunction
and
dementia
are
major
public
health
problems
for
aging
societies.
Many
studies
found
an
increased
risk
of
cognitive
decline
among
AF
patients.
However,
systematic
investigations
of
the
interrelationships
between
brain
parameters
and cognitive decline in AF patients are scarce.
One
of
the
key
goals
of
the
Swiss-AF
cohort
is
to
implement
extensive
cognitive
testing
coupled
with
systematic
bMRI
to
identify
AF
patients
who
are
at
increased
risk
of
developing
cognitive
dysfunction.
A
better
understanding
of
the
interrelationships
between
AF,
structural
alterations
on
bMRI
and
cognitive
decline
will
stimulate
development
of
specific
treatment
targets
and
will
help
to
define
solutions
for
this
crucial
public
health issue.
Study Overview
Objectives
Main Objectives of the Study
•
To increase our knowledge on
structural brain damage and its
changes over time in AF patients
•
To gain additional insights on the
incidence and underlying
mechanisms of cognitive decline
in patients with AF
•
To improve long term risk
prediction for stroke and systemic
embolism in contemporary AF
patients
•
To assess risk factors and
subsequent outcomes associated
with AF progression
•
To establish a risk prediction
model for AF recurrence after
pulmonary vein isolation
•
To assess the impact of AF on
health care costs.