Icelandic genetic research company deCODE has announced the discovery of two common single-letter variations in the genome conferring risk of atrial fibrillation, which is the leading cause of cardiogenic stroke.
Yesterday the company also released deCODE AF, a laboratory test to detect the variants, thereby isolating potential atrial fibrillation candidates and hopefully preventing strokes, reports Morgunbladid.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and thought to afflict over 5 percent of people 65 years and 10% of people 75 years and older. The detection of transient atrial fibrillation is thought to be both difficult and very costly. By using this test, healthcare providers will now be able to focus detection on high-risk patients.
