CIHR study named top ten by American Heart Association

A study which showed the success of a new Canadian heart defibrillator has been named by the American Heart Association as one of 2010's top ten research projects in the fight against heart disease and stroke.

The improved defibrillator adds wires capable of transmitting electrical impulses to three chambers of the heart. This new addition is called cardiac resynchronization therapy (or CRT) and helps the lower chambers of the heart to beat more strongly and more in unison. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that the CRT was found to reduce the risk of death by 24% compared to a traditional defibrillator.

The study was funded by CIHR and led by Dr. Anthony Tang and Dr. George Wells of the Ottawa Heart Institute.

For more information on the American Heart Association Top Ten list.

For more information on the CRT study.