Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is defined as a natural death due to cardiac causes, heralded by an abrupt loss of consciousness within one hour of the onset of acute symptoms. It is mostly initiated by a sudden inappropriate and extreme increase in heart rate (typically...
In June 2008, the Medical Advisory Secretariat began work on the Diabetes Strategy Evidence Project, an evidence-based review of the literature surrounding strategies for successful management and treatment of diabetes. This project came about when the Health System...
Cardiovascular disease is a major public health issue accounting for almost 17 million deaths per year globally. According to estimates, 40-50% of them are sudden cardiac deaths. Approximately 6 million sudden cardiac deaths are caused by ventricular tachyarrhythmias....
On 25 July 2013, the then Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, requested that the Health Information and Quality Authority undertake a health technology assessment (HTA) of a public access defibrillation programme. This was with the aim of informing decision-making...
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia seen in general practice and is associated with a five-fold increase in the risk of stroke. Strokes related to atrial fibrillation are also more severe, with twice the death rate of non-AF related strokes and...
Many patients take oral anticoagulants, usually for very long periods or even lifelong. This treatment improves life expectancy and reduces the risk of thromboembolic events but requires a close and inconvenient monitoring. Indeed, various factors such as diet...
The report focuses on the use of AEDs as a standalone intervention, i.e. not incorporated into a coordinated public access defibrillation (PAD) programme, because this is currently the dominant practice in Belgium. The question was not to advise the government about...
Head injury is a significant economic, social and medical problem all over the world. For this reason, prognostic factors in head injury are of major importance to all surgeons who treat severely injured patients. Outcome of severe head injury is frequently determined...
In Norway, breast cancer screening is offered through a publicly funded program to women in the age group 50-69 on a biennial basis. Breast cancer incidence is relatively higher among women in this age group than it is among younger women. The purpose of the screening...
Permanent cardiac pacing using pacemaker implantation is an effective and necessary treatment for patients suffering from atrial fibrillation and bradycardia. In this single technology assessment, we assessed a leadless pacemaker for patients indicated for...
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