Posted by Carl Plaskett on December 05, 2002 at 23:16:01:
In Reply to: Re: New England Journal on Afib treatment posted by Kati on December 05, 2002 at 21:53:04:
Kati: Like you, my first impression was that the difference between 356 deaths for the rythmn controlled participants and the 310 deaths for the rate controlled folks seemed to be statistically more than "insignificant". I am NOT a statistician (Statistics was my WORST subject in college,40 years ago), but the size of the study seems to enter into this calculation.
More significant to me, having read the ABSTRACTS of these articles from the NEJM Newsletter, is that the mean age of the participants was 69.7 years +/- 9 years, and that 70.8% suffered hypertension and 38% suffered from coronary heart disease (I am doing this from memory, since I cannot seem to go back and forth to the article without losing this thread, but I think my #s are right). This is NOT an accurate description of most of the posters on this site, or the other afib sites I read. Most of us are NOT/were NOT suffering from heart disease or hypertension when we first were troubled by persistant afib. Most of us are, or were active people, greatly troubled by the relatively sudden disabling effects of afib and/or the drug therapies.Hopefully insurance carriers will not jump to the inappropriate conclusion you suggest, particularly regarding "older" patients. We certainly have some recent "older" success stories. Witness Claude's recent post - I agree with his wife! I have met Claude and concur that he looks 15 years younger than his age, and I never knew him before his maze. He is a great testimonial for keeping active AND for the Maze surgery being performed at age 73. I hope I look/feel as well in 12 years!
There is no reason to live with afib OR either type of drug at ANY age.There are forward thinking insurance carriers who recognize the economic benefits of insuring healthy folks (aka: "cured"). Ed Wehan, others, and myself, are testimonials to the numerous carriers with this attitude. My carrier, Aetna, would ONLY send me to the Cleveland Clinic. Do you think they knew something I didn't? I am cured, and am saving them big $ by not taking expensive drugs, having doctor's visits, INR blood tests monthly, respiratory function, liver function, thyroid function, and other tests on a regular basis. May they thrive and prosper for their wisdom!
- Re: New England Journal on Afib treatment Claude Hepworth 23:55:27 12/06/2002 (0)