Montreal, Nov. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Doctors researchers from the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) presented new data today at the American Heart Association Late-Breaking Scientific Sessions. Simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the data shows that catheter ablation may be better than antiarrhythmic drugs at halting disease progression. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, affecting approximately 1 to 2% of the overall population. Treatment guidelines recommend a trial of drug therapy to maintain a normal atrial heart rhythm before catheter ablation is considered. However, these medications have only limited ability to maintain a normal heart rhythm and have substantial side effects. Catheter ablation is considered superior to antiarrhythmic drugs in maintaining normal (sinus) rhythm and improving quality of life in patients in whom drugs have already failed but it was previously unknown whether earlier ablation could prevent the progression of the disease. “By treating patients with catheter ablation right from the start, we see fewer people advancing to more persistent, life-threatening forms of atrial fibrillation,” said Dr Jason Andrade, electrophysiologist affiliated with the MHI, assistant Professor of Medicine, Université de Montréal and lead author of the EARLY-AF study. “This data provides clear evidence...

ST. PHILIPS, SASK. – Pewaseskwan Indigenous Wellness Research Group (pewaseskwan) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has partnered with The Key First Nation and the Yorkton Tribal Council to support research on heart disease and spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), also known as Kennedy’s Disease. Dr. Alexandra King (MD), of Nipissing First Nation and co-lead of pewaseskwan, said Indigenous people have higher rates of heart disease and Kennedy’s Disease, and to address this, there is a need for culturally responsive health research, services and programming that prioritize Indigenous knowledge systems, create ethical space between Indigenous and Western systems, and ensure culturally safe and resonant Western approaches. To help accomplish this, pewaseskwan is prioritizing Indigenous voices in the research and the Yorkton Tribal Council and The Key First Nation have been instrumental in providing support. “We are excited to partner with The Key First Nation and the Yorkton Tribal Council as we collaborate to ensure research regarding First Nations communities is community-led and culturally safe. Heart disease and Kennedy’s Disease have much higher-than-average rates in our communities, and we want to ensure our people play a strong role in the research to reduce the burden of these diseases,” said Dr. King. Pewaseskwan,...

The Montreal Heart Institute leads a Pan-Canadian alliance aimed to improve health outcomes for Canadians living with Heart Failure MAY 3, 2022 (MONTREAL, QC) – As the National Heart Failure Awareness Week begins, the Montreal Heart Institute announces the creation of the Canadian Heart Function Alliance (CHF Alliance) Network. Uniting an extensive network of researchers, cardiologists, patients, caregivers, Indigenous elders, policymakers and supporting organizations across the country, this pan-Canadian alliance aims to tackle the challenges of heart failure – a common condition that is often fatal, and on the rise in Canada. The CHF Alliance spans eight provinces and one territory and involves 11 patient/caregiver partners; 13 Indigenous partners; and 132 investigators (42% women; two dozen early-career investigators) all collaborating on 23 research projects. The CHF Alliance was made possible thanks to $5 million in support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Mitacs, and the National Institute of Health’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. To complement this investment, the CHF Alliance has already attracted matching funds (cash and in-kind) of more than $27 million. Additional CHF Alliance partners include the HeartLife Foundation; the Canadian Cardiovascular Society; the...

TORONTO, Nov. 3, 2020 /CNW/ – Clearbridge Mobile is proud to have played a vital role in assisting the Cardiac Arrhythmia Network of Canada (CANet) launch, VIRTUES, an online web-based application developed to reduce emergency department visits and improve COVID-19 patient-driven care. With many of Canada’s telehealth solutions under tremendous strain due to the pandemic, the need for a digital solution was inevitable and presented a fantastic opportunity for both organizations to partner and collectively support Canadian citizens and frontline healthcare professionals. With a proven track record of meeting aggressive timelines, previous experience working with enterprises in the healthcare sector across Canada and the United States, and industry-specific expertise in mobile and web app development, partnering with Clearbridge Mobile was an obvious choice for this project. “As a made-in-Canada solution, partnering with a local North American vendor was extremely important to us,” says CANet CEO and Scientific Director Dr. Anthony Tang. “This ensured we would have unrestricted access to their team of experts whenever needed, and allowed for open and transparent communication. Clearbridge Mobile was very customer-centric and dedicated to a refined process that helped us achieve success in launching this app.” The web-app launched within its four-week deadline and...

Media Release For Immediate Release September 9, 2020   LONDON, ONTARIO– A research study from the Cardiac Arrhythmia Network of Canada (CANet) and Lawson Health Research Institute is testing the use of a new online patient care platform designed to help track symptoms for COVID-19 positive patients. Patients are now being enrolled in the study from the Urgent COVID-19 Care Clinic at London Health Sciences Centre. This virtual clinic helps identify, triage, monitor and manage potential complications for people recovering from COVID-19 at home. Patients can self-monitor their health with ongoing access to virtual physician support. The COVID-19 Virtual Care at Home research study is testing the use of VIRTUES (Virtual Integrated Reliable Transformative User-Driven E-health System), a virtual, patient-centred platform created by CANet to help guide COVID-19 positive patients in managing their illness. They will have remote access to a team of health care providers including those specialized in the fields of cardiology, emergency medicine, internal medicine, infectious disease, neurology and respirology. “Using VIRTUES, the care team can monitor a range of symptoms remotely that tells us a lot about how the patient is doing. In addition to tracking their temperature, we are using a home-based pulse oximeter to measure pulse rate and oxygen saturation,” says project co-lead Dr. Marko Mrkobrada, LHSC physician and Lawson...

London, ON, May 12, 2020 ⁠— CANet is pleased to announce its renewed federal funding of $15.7 million over three years (totalling $42 million for 2014-23) from the Networks of Excellence of Canada (NCE). With over $46+ million in matching funds from partners to date, this support will enable our network to continue its digital transformation activities, technology development and commercialization, and advancements in arrhythmia research. A patient-driven network, CANet has provided research funding through several granting programs designed to impact the lives of people living with arrhythmias.  Through the network’s investments, CANet Investigators have: Developed a cloud-based, secured, virtual care platform, VIRTUES (Virtual Integrated Reliable Transformative User-Driven E-Health System), which is being used in clinical research to show its usability, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness. Collaborated with Baylis Medical to develop a new transseptal system for patients suffering from heart failure, which is now in production with clearance from Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Collaborated with Drone Delivery Canada for the implementation of drone delivery of automated external defibrillators (AED’s) in rural areas. Developed a catheter contact-force controller (CFC) device that adjusts the catheter position and contact force which will significantly improve ablation procedures. Developed the Canadian...

Halifax, NS, May 11, 2020 – Remote Patient Management for Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (RPM-CIED), a national randomized controlled study, consisting of over two-thousand patients in 12 sites across Canada, has launched in Calgary, AB, Halifax, NS, Kitchener, ON, and Quebec City, QC. This program focuses on patient care with remote management of implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD) and pacemakers and the efficiency, effectiveness, and safety of CANet’s VIRTUES care platform. VIRTUES will facilitate the remote-only environment of this study. Approximately 120,000 Canadian patients live with either a pacemaker or ICD. These patients are required to visit a cardiac device clinic at least once a year. The unmet need for patients with ICD’s and pacemakers to improve follow up methods outside of a clinical environment was recognized before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. “In our pilot work, we found that a remote-only approach was safe and feasible. We also found that 91% of patients desire communication from their clinic regarding their device,” says Dr. Ratika Parkash, CANet Network Investigator, Electrophysiologist at Halifax’s QEII Health Sciences Centre, and Professor at Dalhousie University. “This is not currently happening in the majority of clinics in Canada, “she adds. Although remote monitoring for CIEDs has been...

Toronto ON, December 16, 2019 – With the Cardiac Arrhythmia Network of Canada (CANet®) group of investigators leading ground-breaking arrhythmia health research and technology advancements, our Network is challenging startups to highlight their innovations at the inaugural CANet® Shift competition. Here’s your opportunity to showcase your innovation and win $200,000! Canadian health technology startups will go head-to-head, showcasing their technology during the CANet® Annual Public Forum at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto, ON, on February 4, 2020. Three video submission finalists will be selected to present their innovations and ground-breaking solutions, in a 5-minute pitch, to our group of renowned researchers, industry leaders, venture capitalists, and, most importantly, our patient-filled audience. Does your startup have what it takes? “With the prominent growth of Digital Health innovations and its impact on healthcare, it is imperative to propel technologies that support and saves patients’ lives,” says Dr. Anthony Tang, CEO and Scientific Director, CANet. “Our goals align with supporting technology advancements surrounding arrhythmia research and management to provide efficient and effective patient-focused care.” Visit www.canetshift.com to submit your application and learn more about this exciting event. The deadline for the CANet® Shift applications closes on January 17, 2020.   About CANet®...

TORONTO, NOVEMBER 5, 2019 – A randomized controlled trial has found that use of Baylis Medical’s NRG® Transseptal Needle results in shorter time in achieving transseptal access, less transseptal attempts, and reduced exposure to radiation, compared to use of a conventional transseptal needle. The study, entitled Randomized Trial of Conventional Versus Radiofrequency Needle Transseptal Puncture for Cryoballoon Ablation (the CRYO-LATS Study), was presented at the recent Transcatheter Therapeutics Conference (TCT) in San Francisco, by Dr. Jason Andrade, Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology at the Vancouver General Hospital. The study was a multicenter prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT), in which 135 patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) underwent pulmonary vein isolation using a novel large bore cryoballoon system. Researchers performed a transseptal puncture using either a conventional transseptal needle requiring mechanical force to cross the septum, or the NRG needle, which uses radiofrequency (RF) energy for crossing. Researchers found that the median transseptal puncture time using the NRG needle was significantly shorter. Further, use of the NRG needle resulted in fewer attempts to puncture the septum than with the conventional needle. Researchers also observed a trend for lower exposure to radiation for the patient and catheterization lab staff in cases...

London, ON, February 1, 2019 — Cardiac Arrhythmia Network of Canada (CANet) leverages cutting-edge technology to empower its patients. Digital innovations like artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and consumer-grade wearables are now mainstream. Healthcare services must invest in these breakthroughs to deliver better medical care for Canadians. CANet is currently focusing on solutions – advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain technology – towards one simple strategic goal – significantly improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and accessibility of arrhythmia care delivery in Canada. “We are staying ahead of the digital-health curve by bridging the gap between doctors, technologists, and patients,” says CANet Research Data and Systems Manager Dimitri Popolov. So far, that gap has been a key obstacle in developing advanced healthcare technology. CANet’s VIRTUES Clinical Platform – a user-driven clinical application – is transforming how CANet works with patients and clinicians to manage arrhythmia. It presents patients with their health data and includes them in the decision-making process aimed at improving health outcomes. Think of VIRTUES as precision medicine – a bundle of technology and medical breakthroughs wrapped in an online platform seamlessly and securely sharing valuable clinical data among wearable medical devices and databases, doctors and patients, all across...