Cardiac arrhythmias: A review of current practices and emerging technologies

Coinciding with Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Week and the Asia-Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS) conference, Tanya Hall, CEO of hearts4heart, and A/Professor Chrishan Nalliah, Electrophysiologist at MQ Health, shed light on pressing issues in cardiac health and the future of patient care.

Hall shared how her personal journey and deep connection with patients emphasise the urgency of raising awareness about the condition.

“There are many patients that don’t have symptoms, and so sometimes it’s not until they have a stroke that it’s diagnosed. The other challenge is access to treatment. In some public hospitals, we have 1-2 year waiting lists for catheter ablation,” she explained.

A/Professor Nalliah delved into the advancements in the treatment of arrhythmias, highlighting how health technology innovations over the past decade have revolutionised patient care.

“The evidence is mounting that early and aggressive intervention, especially in the younger cohort, gives better outcomes,” he said. “The evolution of a new energy source when it comes to atrial fibrillation ablation – pulsed field ablation (PFA) – is also a therapeutic game changer.”

He also described the APHRS conference as the “convergence of science”, which promises to be a pivotal event for future breakthroughs in technology, clinical practice, and research in the heart rhythm field.

Smart devices, particularly the recent approval of smartwatches with ECG features by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), are playing an increasing role in empowering patients to take charge of their health. The duo discussed how these digital technologies are reshaping patient engagement and care.

As the conversation shifted to the the upcoming Federal election and the systemic challenges facing Australia’s public and private healthcare systems, A/Professor Nalliah and Hall called for bold reforms from policymakers to ensure healthcare is not only equitable but also affordable for all Australians.

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