Key Details
A study led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London was published in the Journal of Physiology. The study indicates that improved 'digital twins' could assist doctors in treating patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF).
AF is a heart condition characterized by erratic heartbeat and is a leading cause of stroke, affecting over 1.5 million people in the UK.
Background
The most common treatment for AF is ablation, which uses heat or cold energy to destroy heart tissue causing chaotic rhythms.
Ablation is not always effective, and repeat procedures are common in persistent AF due to complex, distributed electrical changes that are difficult to map in a single procedure.
Potential Impact
Better digital twins, which are virtual models of the heart, could help map these electrical changes more accurately, potentially improving ablation outcomes.