Study: Atrial fibrillation affects three times more Americans than previously estimated

Editor's Note

Research shows atrial fibrillation (Afib), a heart rhythm disorder, affects 10.5 million US adults—three times more than previously believed, HealthDay News reported September 12.

The article focuses on a study from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. This updated estimate, representing 5% of the population, contrasts sharply with older figures of 3.3 million and is based on analyzed medical records from nearly 30 million Californians between 2005 and 2019.

According to the report, the rise in Afib cases has been linked to an aging population and increased rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Afib causes irregular heartbeats in the upper chambers of the heart, allowing blood to pool and potentially clot, increasing the risk of stroke fivefold. Additionally, untreated Afib doubles the risk of heart-related death and is associated with heart failure, kidney disease, and dementia, according to researchers.

Researchers emphasized that early detection and proper treatment can significantly reduce the negative health outcomes of Afib. Additionally, advances in consumer wearables that detect Afib and improved treatments may lead to even higher reported prevalence in the future.