Newcastle consultant Asif Shah has welcomed a new drug trial that could help thousands of patients with a heart condition. The trial, called AFFECT, is designed to find the safest and most effective treatment to use after heart valve surgery for patients who also have an irregular heartbeat.
Trial running at 30 NHS centres
Mr Shah and his colleagues at the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust are among 30 NHS centres offering the trial. It is being led from Teesside, at the Academic Cardiovascular Unit at James Cook University Hospital.
Mr Shah, from the Freeman Hospital, said: "We're pleased to be able to offer patients the opportunity to take part in the AFFECT trial. We hope that the trial will provide much-needed evidence in this area and determine best treatment options for patients in the future."
Comparing blood-thinning medications
The trial compares how a newer kind of blood-thinning medication, known as "direct oral anticoagulants," compares with previously common drugs such as warfarin. Both kinds of medication help a patient avoid blood clots following surgery, reducing the risk of issues such as strokes, but the new trial assesses the long-term outcomes of using each option.
Professor Enoch Akowuah is the trial's chief investigator based on Teesside. He said: "This is an important question for both patients and clinicians. We know anticoagulation is essential for patients with atrial fibrillation after mitral valve repair, but we do not yet know which treatment offers the best balance of safety and protection."
"The AFFECT trial will provide high-quality evidence to guide national treatment decisions and improve long-term outcomes for patients across the UK and internationally."
Patients already enrolled
Eligible patients will be invited to take part by the NHS staff looking after them. More than 130 patients have already begun treatment on the trial.
