III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 262 

Designating the month of September 2009 as ‘‘National Atrial Fibrillation 

Awareness Month’’ and encouraging efforts to educate the public about 

atrial fibrillation. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2009 

Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. DORGAN, and Mr. CRAPO) 

submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the month of September 2009 as ‘‘National 

Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month’’ and encouraging 

efforts to educate the public about atrial fibrillation. 

Whereas atrial fibrillation is a cardiac condition in which 

electrical pulses disrupt the regular beating of the atria 

in the heart, hampering the ability of the atria to fill the 

ventricles with blood, and subsequently causing blood to 

pool in the atria and form clots; 

Whereas atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac malfunction and affects at least 2,200,000 people in the 

United States, with increased prevalence anticipated as 

the population of the United States ages; 


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•SRES 262 ATS 

Whereas atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased 

long-term risk of stroke, heart failure, and mortality from 

all causes, especially among women; 

Whereas, according to the Journal of the American College 

of Cardiology, atrial fibrillation accounts for approximately 1⁄3 of hospitalizations for cardiac rhythm disturbances; 

Whereas, according to the American Heart Association, 3 to 

5 percent of people in the United States who are 65 

years of age and older are estimated to have atrial fibrillation; 

Whereas, according to a study in the American Heart Association journal ‘‘Circulation’’, atrial fibrillation is recognized as a major contributor to strokes, with an estimated 15 to 20 percent of strokes occurring in people 

with atrial fibrillation; 

Whereas the Journal of the American College of Cardiology 

estimates that the treatment of atrial fibrillation costs 

approximately $3,600 per patient annually, for a total 

cost burden in the United States of approximately 

$15,700,000,000; 

Whereas obesity is a significant risk factor for atrial fibrillation; 

Whereas better education for patients and health care providers is needed in order to ensure timely recognition of 

atrial fibrillation symptoms; and 

Whereas more research into effective treatments for atrial fibrillation is needed: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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•SRES 262 ATS 

1 (1) designates the month of September 2009 as 

2 ‘‘National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month’’; 

3 (2) supports efforts to educate people about 

4 atrial fibrillation; 

5 (3) recognizes the need for additional research 

6 into treatment for atrial fibrillation; and 

7 (4) encourages the people of the United States 

8 and interested groups to observe and support Na9 tional Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month through 

10 appropriate programs and activities that promote 

11 public awareness of atrial fibrillation and potential 

12 treatments for atrial fibrillation. 

Æ 


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