Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Arrhythmias – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558923/

  Arrhythmia entails a broad spectrum of disorders of heart rate and rhythm abnormalities. Arrhythmia is broadly categorized into bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmia based on the heart rate. […] The prevalence of arrhythmias is expected to be 1.5% to 5% in the general population, with atrial fibrillation being the most common. […] The overall presence of arrhythmia is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. […] Arrhythmias can pose a diagnostic dilemma. The patient presentation can be varied even for the same arrhythmia and can require a different management approach based on the patient’s clinical condition and characteristics. […] It has been shown that hospitals with a dedicated arrhythmia team consisting of a nurse, electrophysiologist, noninvasive arrhythmia expert, and internist have shown significant improvement in the outcomes of patients.

• #2 Epidemiology of major heart rhythm and conduction disorders – PubMed

  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39521645/

  Heart rhythm and conduction disorders cover a variety of pathologies, ranging from the benign to the immediately life threatening. […] To describe the epidemiology of patients hospitalized for arrhythmias in France, and to estimate the prevalence and mortality associated with these disorders, divided into three separate groups: atrial fibrillation and flutter; conduction disorders; and ventricular tachycardia/cardiac arrest. […] At 1st January 2023, the prevalence of patients who had been hospitalized with major rhythm and conduction disorders was 2,740,141: 2,027,900 with atrial fibrillation/flutter; 999,692 with conduction disorders; and 214,989 with ventricular tachycardia/cardiac arrest. […] Mortality at the end of hospitalization reached 44% for patients hospitalized for ventricular tachycardia/cardiac arrest.

• #3 Global surge in serious heart rhythm disorders sparks urgent call to action from experts: 1 in 3 people at risk

  https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/global-surge-in-serious-heart-rhythm-disorders-sparks-urgent-call-to-action-from

  1 in 3 people worldwide will develop a potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorder in their lifetime, yet awareness remains critically low. […] Heart rhythm disorders, also known as cardiac arrhythmias, occur when the hearts electrical conduction system malfunctions, causing the heart to beat too quickly, slowly, or irregularly. […] The most common heart rhythm disorder, atrial fibrillation, has seen a marked rise in global prevalence, from 33.5 million cases in 2010 to 59 million in 2019. […] Heart rhythm disorders are a silent epidemic, says Professor Julian Chun, Chair of the EHRAs Scientific Initiatives Committee. Their prevalence is increasing dramatically, yet many people remain unaware of the risks and symptoms. […] A common myth exists that heart rhythm disorders only impact older adults, but this is far from the truth. […] Held annually on 1 March (1/3), Pulse Day serves as a powerful reminder that 1 in 3 people is at risk of developing a serious heart rhythm disorder in their lifetime. […] Recognising the signs early through a pulse check could make all the difference in safeguarding your future, she emphasises.

• #4 Arrhythmia – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrhythmia

  Arrhythmia affects millions of people. […] In Europe and North America, as of 2014, atrial fibrillation affects about 2% to 3% of the population. […] Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter resulted in 112,000 deaths in 2013, up from 29,000 in 1990. […] However, in most recent cases concerning the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, cardiac arrhythmias are commonly developed and associated with high morbidity and mortality among patients hospitalized with the COVID-19 infection, due to the infection’s ability to cause myocardial injury. […] Sudden cardiac death is the cause of about half of deaths due to cardiovascular disease and about 15% of all deaths globally. […] About 80% of sudden cardiac death is the result of ventricular arrhythmias. […] Arrhythmias may occur at any age but are more common among older people. […] Arrhythmias may also occur in children; however, the normal range for the heart rate varies with age.

• #5 About Atrial Fibrillation | Heart Disease | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/atrial-fibrillation.html

  Atrial fibrillation, often called AFib or AF, is the most common type of treated heart arrhythmia. […] Atrial Fibrillation is the most common type of heart arrhythmia. […] It is estimated that 12.1 million people in the US will have AFib in S12. […] In 2021, AFib was mentioned on 232,030 death certificates and was the underlying cause of death in 28,037 of those deaths. […] The risk for AFib increases with age. […] AFib increases a person’s risk for stroke. […] More than 454,000 hospitalizations with AFib as the primary diagnosis happen each year in the US. […] The condition contributes to about 158,000 deaths each year. […] The death rate from AFib as the primary or a contributing cause of death has been rising for more than two decades.

• #6 How Many People Have A-Fib? Three Times More Than We Thought | UC San Francisco

  https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/09/428416/how-many-people-have-fib-three-times-more-we-thought

  In the first national estimate in two decades, UCSF reports that 10.5 million Americans have atrial fibrillation, a dangerous but highly treatable arrhythmia. […] Atrial fibrillation, a rapid, irregular heartbeat that can lead to stroke or sudden death, is three times more common than previously thought, affecting nearly 5% of the population, or 10.5 million U.S. adults, according to new estimates from UC San Francisco. […] A-Fib, as the condition is commonly known, has been on the rise for at least the past decade, driven by the aging of the population, along with increasing rates of hypertension, diabetes and obesity. […] About a third of people with A-Fib will experience a stroke without proper treatment. […] Atrial fibrillation doubles the risk of mortality, is one of the most common causes of stroke, increases risks of heart failure, myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease and dementia, and results in lower quality of life, said first author Jean Jacques Noubiap, MD, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar at UCSF with a specialty in global cardiovascular health.

• #7 How Many People Have A-Fib? Three Times More Than We Thought | UC San Francisco

  https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/09/428416/how-many-people-have-fib-three-times-more-we-thought

  Fortunately, atrial fibrillation is preventable, and early detection and appropriate treatment can substantially reduce its adverse outcomes, he said. […] About 2 million of these people had been diagnosed with A-Fib, and the numbers grew over time, rising from 4.49% of the patients treated between 2005 and 2009 to 6.82% of the patients treated between 2015 and 2019. […] The data were standardized to reflect the entire country, and researchers estimated the current national prevalence to be at least 10.55 million. […] A-Fib has a broad spectrum of complications from shortness of breath and light-headedness to blood clots, stroke and even heart failure. […] Studies have shown that people with A-Fib are up to five times more likely to have a stroke. […] These data provide objective evidence to demonstrate that prior projections severely underestimated how common it truly is.

• #8 Atrial fibrillation – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrial_fibrillation

  Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia and affects more than 33 million people worldwide. […] In Europe and North America, as of 2014, it affects about 2% to 3% of the population. […] In the developing world, rates are about 0.6% for males and 0.4% for females. […] The number of people diagnosed with AF has increased due to better detection of silent AF, increasing age and increase of conditions that predispose to it such as obesity and increasing survival from other forms of cardiovascular disease. […] The rate of hospital admissions for AF has risen. […] AF is the cause for 20% of all ischemic strokes. […] After a transient ischemic attack or stroke, about 11% are found to have a new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. […] The number of new cases each year of AF increases with age.

• #9 About Atrial Fibrillation | Heart Disease | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/atrial-fibrillation.html

  Atrial fibrillation, often called AFib or AF, is the most common type of treated heart arrhythmia. […] Atrial Fibrillation is the most common type of heart arrhythmia. […] It is estimated that 12.1 million people in the US will have AFib in S12. […] In 2021, AFib was mentioned on 232,030 death certificates and was the underlying cause of death in 28,037 of those deaths. […] The risk for AFib increases with age. […] AFib increases a person’s risk for stroke. […] More than 454,000 hospitalizations with AFib as the primary diagnosis happen each year in the US. […] The condition contributes to about 158,000 deaths each year. […] The death rate from AFib as the primary or a contributing cause of death has been rising for more than two decades.

• #10 Atrial Fibrillation: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/151066-overview

  AF is the most frequently encountered cardiac arrhythmia. It affects more than 2.7 to 6.1 million persons in the United States which is expected to rise to 12.1 million in 2030. AF is strongly age-dependent, affecting 4% of individuals older than 60 years and 8% of persons older than 80 years. Approximately 25% of individuals aged 40 years and older will develop AF during their lifetime. The prevalence of AF is 0.1% in persons younger than 55 years, 3.8% in persons 60 years or older, and 10% in persons 80 years or older. With the projected increase in the elderly population in the United States, the prevalence of AF is expected to more than double by the year 2050. AF is uncommon in childhood except after cardiac surgery. The incidence of AF is significantly higher in men than in women in all age groups, although this effect may be mediated through the difference in average height between men and women. AF appears to be more common in White individuals (30%-40% overall lifetime risk) than in Black persons (20% overall lifetime risk) and Chinese persons (about 15% overall lifetime risk), with Black individuals having less than half the age-adjusted risk of developing AF. In 10-15% of cases of AF, the disease occurs in the absence of comorbidities. However, AF is often associated with other cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension; heart failure; diabetes-related heart disease; ischemic heart disease; and valvular, dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, and congenital cardiomyopathies. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study suggests reduced kidney function and presence of albuminuria are strongly associated with AF. The rate of ischemic stroke in patients with nonrheumatic AF averages 5% a year, which is somewhere between 2 and 7 times the rate of stroke in patients without AF. The risk of stroke is not due solely to AF; it increases substantially in the presence of other cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of stroke in patients younger than 60 years is less than 0.5%; however, in those older than 70 years, the prevalence doubles with each decade. The attributable risk of stroke from AF is estimated to be 1.5% for those aged 50-59 years, and it approaches 30% for those aged 80-89 years. Women are at a higher risk of stroke due to AF than men and some have suggested this may be due to undertreatment with warfarin. However, one study of patients 65 years or older with recently diagnosed AF found warfarin use played no part in the increased risk of stroke among female patients.

• #11 Epidemiology of atrial fibrillation: European perspective | CLEP

  https://www.dovepress.com/epidemiology-of-atrial-fibrillation-european-perspective-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CLEP

  Given that the prevalence of AF continues to increase, it is crucial to have an updated picture of the epidemiological, clinical, and social impact of AF to plan appropriate interventions and adequately allocate human and economic resources. […] The projected burden of AF in the European population in 2030 is based on estimates of demographic progression in Europe according to Eurostat. […] The most recent studies have confirmed this perception and shown that the prevalence of AF in the general adult population of Europe is more than double that reported just one decade earlier, ranging from 1.9% in Italy, Iceland, and England to 2.3% in Germany and 2.9% in Sweden. […] In developing countries, AF occurs in approximately 0.6% of males and 0.4% of females. […] The prevalence of AF varies with age and sex. AF is present in 0.12%0.16% of subjects younger than 49 years, 3.7%4.2% of those aged 6070 years, and 10%17% of those aged 80 years or older.

• #12 Epidemiology of atrial fibrillation: European perspective | CLEP

  https://www.dovepress.com/epidemiology-of-atrial-fibrillation-european-perspective-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CLEP

  In the last 20 years, atrial fibrillation (AF) has become one of the most important public health problems and a significant cause of increasing health care costs in western countries. The prevalence of AF is increasing due to our greater ability to treat chronic cardiac and noncardiac diseases, and the improved ability to suspect and diagnose AF. At the present time, the prevalence of AF (2%) is double that reported in the last decade. The prevalence of AF varies with age and sex. AF is present in 0.12%0.16% of those younger than 49 years, in 3.7%4.2% of those aged 6070 years, and in 10%17% of those aged 80 years or older. In addition, it occurs more frequently in males, with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. The incidence of AF ranges between 0.21 and 0.41 per 1,000 person/years. Permanent AF occurs in approximately 50% of patients, and paroxysmal and persistent AF in 25% each. AF is frequently associated with cardiac disease and comorbidities. The most common concomitant diseases are coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and cardiomyopathy. The most common comorbidities are hypertension, diabetes, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal failure, stroke, and cognitive disturbance.

• #13 Atrial Fibrillation: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/151066-overview

  AF is the most frequently encountered cardiac arrhythmia. It affects more than 2.7 to 6.1 million persons in the United States which is expected to rise to 12.1 million in 2030. AF is strongly age-dependent, affecting 4% of individuals older than 60 years and 8% of persons older than 80 years. Approximately 25% of individuals aged 40 years and older will develop AF during their lifetime. The prevalence of AF is 0.1% in persons younger than 55 years, 3.8% in persons 60 years or older, and 10% in persons 80 years or older. With the projected increase in the elderly population in the United States, the prevalence of AF is expected to more than double by the year 2050. AF is uncommon in childhood except after cardiac surgery. The incidence of AF is significantly higher in men than in women in all age groups, although this effect may be mediated through the difference in average height between men and women. AF appears to be more common in White individuals (30%-40% overall lifetime risk) than in Black persons (20% overall lifetime risk) and Chinese persons (about 15% overall lifetime risk), with Black individuals having less than half the age-adjusted risk of developing AF. In 10-15% of cases of AF, the disease occurs in the absence of comorbidities. However, AF is often associated with other cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension; heart failure; diabetes-related heart disease; ischemic heart disease; and valvular, dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, and congenital cardiomyopathies. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study suggests reduced kidney function and presence of albuminuria are strongly associated with AF. The rate of ischemic stroke in patients with nonrheumatic AF averages 5% a year, which is somewhere between 2 and 7 times the rate of stroke in patients without AF. The risk of stroke is not due solely to AF; it increases substantially in the presence of other cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of stroke in patients younger than 60 years is less than 0.5%; however, in those older than 70 years, the prevalence doubles with each decade. The attributable risk of stroke from AF is estimated to be 1.5% for those aged 50-59 years, and it approaches 30% for those aged 80-89 years. Women are at a higher risk of stroke due to AF than men and some have suggested this may be due to undertreatment with warfarin. However, one study of patients 65 years or older with recently diagnosed AF found warfarin use played no part in the increased risk of stroke among female patients.

• #14 Atrial fibrillation – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrial_fibrillation

  Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia and affects more than 33 million people worldwide. […] In Europe and North America, as of 2014, it affects about 2% to 3% of the population. […] In the developing world, rates are about 0.6% for males and 0.4% for females. […] The number of people diagnosed with AF has increased due to better detection of silent AF, increasing age and increase of conditions that predispose to it such as obesity and increasing survival from other forms of cardiovascular disease. […] The rate of hospital admissions for AF has risen. […] AF is the cause for 20% of all ischemic strokes. […] After a transient ischemic attack or stroke, about 11% are found to have a new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. […] The number of new cases each year of AF increases with age.

• #15 Cardiac arrhythmias in low- and middle-income countries – Mkoko – Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy

  https://cdt.amegroups.org/article/view/31223/html

  Many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are undergoing an epidemiological transition. […] With an increasing life expectancy seen in most LMICs, arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation (AF), ventricular arrhythmias due to ischaemic heart disease, sinus node dysfunction (SND) and heart block are expected to increase in these countries. […] This review article will focus on the current epidemiology and discuss the challenges to the management of cardiac arrhythmias and opportunities to improve arrhythmia care in LMICs. […] The prevalence and incidence of AF in HICs remains significantly higher compared to LMICs; however, this difference needs to factor in the substantial lack of data from LMICs that likely significantly underestimates the true disease burden. […] A systematic review of community-based AF epidemiology studies in LMICs showed a prevalence of 0.031.25% in the general population and 0.675.6% in individuals older than 70 years of age.

• #16 Global surge in serious heart rhythm disorders sparks urgent call to action from experts: 1 in 3 people at risk

  https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/global-surge-in-serious-heart-rhythm-disorders-sparks-urgent-call-to-action-from

  1 in 3 people worldwide will develop a potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorder in their lifetime, yet awareness remains critically low. […] Heart rhythm disorders, also known as cardiac arrhythmias, occur when the hearts electrical conduction system malfunctions, causing the heart to beat too quickly, slowly, or irregularly. […] The most common heart rhythm disorder, atrial fibrillation, has seen a marked rise in global prevalence, from 33.5 million cases in 2010 to 59 million in 2019. […] Heart rhythm disorders are a silent epidemic, says Professor Julian Chun, Chair of the EHRAs Scientific Initiatives Committee. Their prevalence is increasing dramatically, yet many people remain unaware of the risks and symptoms. […] A common myth exists that heart rhythm disorders only impact older adults, but this is far from the truth. […] Held annually on 1 March (1/3), Pulse Day serves as a powerful reminder that 1 in 3 people is at risk of developing a serious heart rhythm disorder in their lifetime. […] Recognising the signs early through a pulse check could make all the difference in safeguarding your future, she emphasises.

• #17 Epidemiology and Management of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation

  https://www.ajmc.com/view/apr04-1781ps050-s057

  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common acute or chronic cardiac disorder that can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Its incidence in the United States is increasing. Projections suggest that more than 5.6 million Americans (50% of whom will be ≥80 years of age) will have AF by 2050. […] The AnTicoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA) study was a cross-sectional evaluation of 1.89 million US adults (≥20 years of age) whose AF was diagnosed between July 1, 1996, and December 31, 1997. The goal of the study was to determine the prevalence of AF in that population and to project the number of people in the United States who would exhibit AF between 1995 and 2050. At the time of the study conclusion, about 2.3 million US adults had AF, and 10.5% of those patients were ≥80 years of age. Projections indicated that 5.6 million Americans would be afflicted by 2050, and more than 50% of those would be 80 years of age. The study also showed that AF occurred more often in men than in women and indicated age-related increases in incidence from 0.1% in people 55 years of age to 3.8% in those 60 years of age to 9% in people ≥80 years of age.

• #18 Frequency of Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities in a Half Million Adults – Mass General Advances in Motion

  https://advances.massgeneral.org/cardiovascular/journal.aspx?id=1114

  Abnormalities of cardiac rhythm are prevalent and affect 2% of middle-aged and older adults. […] Incident cardiac rhythm abnormalities occur at a rate of about 0.5% per year, similar to rates of stroke, myocardial infarction and heart failure. […] Risk factors for rhythm abnormalities include older age, male sex, traditional cardiac risk factors, chronic kidney disease and heart failure. […] This study offers several new insights into the epidemiology of heart rhythm disorders. First, the current report demonstrates that arrhythmias are common among adults and that most are atrial fibrillation. […] Second, the current study indicates that increasing age is a common factor associated with the development of arrhythmias. […] Third, the findings illustrate that many common risk factors are related to arrhythmia onset, including hypertension, coronary artery disease and heart failure.

• #19 Epidemiology of atrial fibrillation: European perspective | CLEP

  https://www.dovepress.com/epidemiology-of-atrial-fibrillation-european-perspective-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CLEP

  Less information is available on the incidence of AF. […] In Europe, the most recent studies performed in the global population over the last decade report an incidence of AF ranging from 0.23 per 1,000 person/years in Iceland to 0.41 in Germany and 0.9 in Scotland, respectively. […] AF is frequently associated with cardiac disease and with cardiac/noncardiac comorbidity. […] The high rates of recurrence, disturbing symptoms, and clinical sequelae (stroke, heart failure, initiation of new antiarrhythmic drugs, drug-related complications, interventional therapy) contribute strongly to the use of health care resources. […] The magnitude of these data seems to confer an endemic dimension to this health care problem, implying not only a greater engagement of physicians but also a significant effort of health care systems to improve AF prevention and treatment and to facilitate the organization of social interventions for the cure of its consequences.

• #20 Frequency of Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities in a Half Million Adults – Mass General Advances in Motion

  https://advances.massgeneral.org/cardiovascular/journal.aspx?id=1114

  Abnormalities of cardiac rhythm are prevalent and affect 2% of middle-aged and older adults. […] Incident cardiac rhythm abnormalities occur at a rate of about 0.5% per year, similar to rates of stroke, myocardial infarction and heart failure. […] Risk factors for rhythm abnormalities include older age, male sex, traditional cardiac risk factors, chronic kidney disease and heart failure. […] This study offers several new insights into the epidemiology of heart rhythm disorders. First, the current report demonstrates that arrhythmias are common among adults and that most are atrial fibrillation. […] Second, the current study indicates that increasing age is a common factor associated with the development of arrhythmias. […] Third, the findings illustrate that many common risk factors are related to arrhythmia onset, including hypertension, coronary artery disease and heart failure.

• #21 Frequency of Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities in a Half Million Adults – Mass General Advances in Motion

  https://advances.massgeneral.org/cardiovascular/journal.aspx?id=1114

  Moreover, frequent alcohol consumption was associated with increased risk of atrial fibrillation whereas active smokers were at greater risk for ventricular arrhythmias. […] The results provide contemporary frequencies of major arrhythmia categories in a large, prospective sample, and demonstrate the relative effect sizes of a broad array of risk factors. […] This is an important step in for quantifying the morbidity and economic costs attributed to arrhythmias, and ultimately for directing interventions to improve health outcomes.

• #22 Atrial Fibrillation: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/151066-overview

  AF is the most frequently encountered cardiac arrhythmia. It affects more than 2.7 to 6.1 million persons in the United States which is expected to rise to 12.1 million in 2030. AF is strongly age-dependent, affecting 4% of individuals older than 60 years and 8% of persons older than 80 years. Approximately 25% of individuals aged 40 years and older will develop AF during their lifetime. The prevalence of AF is 0.1% in persons younger than 55 years, 3.8% in persons 60 years or older, and 10% in persons 80 years or older. With the projected increase in the elderly population in the United States, the prevalence of AF is expected to more than double by the year 2050. AF is uncommon in childhood except after cardiac surgery. The incidence of AF is significantly higher in men than in women in all age groups, although this effect may be mediated through the difference in average height between men and women. AF appears to be more common in White individuals (30%-40% overall lifetime risk) than in Black persons (20% overall lifetime risk) and Chinese persons (about 15% overall lifetime risk), with Black individuals having less than half the age-adjusted risk of developing AF. In 10-15% of cases of AF, the disease occurs in the absence of comorbidities. However, AF is often associated with other cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension; heart failure; diabetes-related heart disease; ischemic heart disease; and valvular, dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, and congenital cardiomyopathies. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study suggests reduced kidney function and presence of albuminuria are strongly associated with AF. The rate of ischemic stroke in patients with nonrheumatic AF averages 5% a year, which is somewhere between 2 and 7 times the rate of stroke in patients without AF. The risk of stroke is not due solely to AF; it increases substantially in the presence of other cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of stroke in patients younger than 60 years is less than 0.5%; however, in those older than 70 years, the prevalence doubles with each decade. The attributable risk of stroke from AF is estimated to be 1.5% for those aged 50-59 years, and it approaches 30% for those aged 80-89 years. Women are at a higher risk of stroke due to AF than men and some have suggested this may be due to undertreatment with warfarin. However, one study of patients 65 years or older with recently diagnosed AF found warfarin use played no part in the increased risk of stroke among female patients.

• #23

  https://www.nccs.com.sg/patient-care/conditions-treatments/abnormal-heart-rhythm-arrhythmia

  While some arrhythmias are harmless, it is important to rule out any serious arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) or pre-existing heart problems. […] Arrhythmias or abnormal heart rhythm occur when there is a short-circuit in the electrical impulses controlling your heartbeat. These electrical impulses are what will cause your heart to beat too rapidly, too slowly or irregularly. […] There are different causes for cardiac arrhythmias, including intrinsic heart problems, endocrinological and metabolic causes. Some common triggers are exercise, stress, caffeine, alcohol, appetite suppressant and decongestants in cough and cold medicines. […] Other risk factors of arrhythmias include: High blood pressure, Ageing, Coronary artery disease, or other types of cardiovascular diseases, Congenital heart disease, Obstructive sleep apnoea.

• #24 Certain Cancers Come with Higher Risk of Serious Heart Rhythm Disorder

  https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2020/03/18/08/45/Certain-Cancers-Come-with-Higher-Risk-of-Serious-Heart-Rhythm-Disorder

  People with a history of cancer have an over two-fold risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common heart rhythm disorder, compared to the general population, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiologys Annual Scientific Session Together with World Congress of Cardiology (ACC.20/WCC). In particular, people who had prostate cancer had the highest burden of AFib, followed by those with colon, lung and breast cancers. […] With AFib, the heart doesnt always beat or keep pace the way it should, which can lead to palpitations, dizziness and fatigue. If untreated, it can lead to blood clots, stroke and heart failure. People with AFib are five times more likely to have a stroke than people without the condition. […] We found 2.3-fold increased odds of having AFib with all cancers studied. There was a greater than 50% increased risk of AFib in prostate, colon and lung cancer patients. Of these three, those with prostate cancer had the highest risk of AFib.

• #25 Certain Cancers Come with Higher Risk of Serious Heart Rhythm Disorder

  https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2020/03/18/08/45/Certain-Cancers-Come-with-Higher-Risk-of-Serious-Heart-Rhythm-Disorder

  The findings suggest that other factors related to the specific type of cancer itself may be contributing to AFib in these patients, Khan said. […] After adjusting for known cardiovascular risk factors and other heart conditions that could lead to AFib (for example, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy and valvular disorder), the odds of having AFib with any cancer was more than twice what would be expected. Prostate cancer ranked highest in association with AFib, followed by breast, lung, colon and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. […] Future studies are needed to clarify what is behind the development of AFib in cancer patients, Khan said. Researchers need to investigate which inflammatory markers may have a greater association with the development of AFib and better understand how to treat AFib more effectively and possibly prevent its onset in cancer patients.

• #26 New evidence links passive smoking with dangerous heart rhythm disorder

  https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/New-evidence-links-passive-smoking-with-dangerous-heart-rhythm-disorder

  Exposure to secondhand smoke even at small amounts is linked with greater risk of a serious heart rhythm disorder, according to research presented at EHRA 2024, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The likelihood of atrial fibrillation increased as the duration of passive smoking lengthened. […] Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder worldwide. Symptoms include palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping. It is estimated that one in three Europeans will develop the condition during their lifetime. People with atrial fibrillation are five times more likely to have a stroke than their healthy peers. […] The group exposed to secondhand smoke had a 6% higher risk of incident atrial fibrillation during follow-up compared with the non-exposed group after adjusting for the previously mentioned factors (hazard ratio 1.06, 95% confidence interval 1.031.10, p 0.001).

• #27 New evidence links passive smoking with dangerous heart rhythm disorder

  https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/New-evidence-links-passive-smoking-with-dangerous-heart-rhythm-disorder

  A dose-dependent relationship was observed, whereby each increase in the duration of weekly passive smoking was linked with an even greater risk of atrial fibrillation. […] Dr. Lee said: According to our study, once exposed to secondhand smoke, the likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation begins to increase, with the risk escalating significantly as the exposure time lengthens. The finding that passive smoking is harmful not only in enclosed indoor spaces but also outdoor environments underscores the importance of smoking bans to protect public health.

• #28 Atrial Fibrillation: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/151066-overview

  AF is the most frequently encountered cardiac arrhythmia. It affects more than 2.7 to 6.1 million persons in the United States which is expected to rise to 12.1 million in 2030. AF is strongly age-dependent, affecting 4% of individuals older than 60 years and 8% of persons older than 80 years. Approximately 25% of individuals aged 40 years and older will develop AF during their lifetime. The prevalence of AF is 0.1% in persons younger than 55 years, 3.8% in persons 60 years or older, and 10% in persons 80 years or older. With the projected increase in the elderly population in the United States, the prevalence of AF is expected to more than double by the year 2050. AF is uncommon in childhood except after cardiac surgery. The incidence of AF is significantly higher in men than in women in all age groups, although this effect may be mediated through the difference in average height between men and women. AF appears to be more common in White individuals (30%-40% overall lifetime risk) than in Black persons (20% overall lifetime risk) and Chinese persons (about 15% overall lifetime risk), with Black individuals having less than half the age-adjusted risk of developing AF. In 10-15% of cases of AF, the disease occurs in the absence of comorbidities. However, AF is often associated with other cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension; heart failure; diabetes-related heart disease; ischemic heart disease; and valvular, dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, and congenital cardiomyopathies. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study suggests reduced kidney function and presence of albuminuria are strongly associated with AF. The rate of ischemic stroke in patients with nonrheumatic AF averages 5% a year, which is somewhere between 2 and 7 times the rate of stroke in patients without AF. The risk of stroke is not due solely to AF; it increases substantially in the presence of other cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of stroke in patients younger than 60 years is less than 0.5%; however, in those older than 70 years, the prevalence doubles with each decade. The attributable risk of stroke from AF is estimated to be 1.5% for those aged 50-59 years, and it approaches 30% for those aged 80-89 years. Women are at a higher risk of stroke due to AF than men and some have suggested this may be due to undertreatment with warfarin. However, one study of patients 65 years or older with recently diagnosed AF found warfarin use played no part in the increased risk of stroke among female patients.

• #29 Atrial Fibrillation: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/151066-overview

  AF is the most frequently encountered cardiac arrhythmia. It affects more than 2.7 to 6.1 million persons in the United States which is expected to rise to 12.1 million in 2030. AF is strongly age-dependent, affecting 4% of individuals older than 60 years and 8% of persons older than 80 years. Approximately 25% of individuals aged 40 years and older will develop AF during their lifetime. The prevalence of AF is 0.1% in persons younger than 55 years, 3.8% in persons 60 years or older, and 10% in persons 80 years or older. With the projected increase in the elderly population in the United States, the prevalence of AF is expected to more than double by the year 2050. AF is uncommon in childhood except after cardiac surgery. The incidence of AF is significantly higher in men than in women in all age groups, although this effect may be mediated through the difference in average height between men and women. AF appears to be more common in White individuals (30%-40% overall lifetime risk) than in Black persons (20% overall lifetime risk) and Chinese persons (about 15% overall lifetime risk), with Black individuals having less than half the age-adjusted risk of developing AF. In 10-15% of cases of AF, the disease occurs in the absence of comorbidities. However, AF is often associated with other cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension; heart failure; diabetes-related heart disease; ischemic heart disease; and valvular, dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, and congenital cardiomyopathies. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study suggests reduced kidney function and presence of albuminuria are strongly associated with AF. The rate of ischemic stroke in patients with nonrheumatic AF averages 5% a year, which is somewhere between 2 and 7 times the rate of stroke in patients without AF. The risk of stroke is not due solely to AF; it increases substantially in the presence of other cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of stroke in patients younger than 60 years is less than 0.5%; however, in those older than 70 years, the prevalence doubles with each decade. The attributable risk of stroke from AF is estimated to be 1.5% for those aged 50-59 years, and it approaches 30% for those aged 80-89 years. Women are at a higher risk of stroke due to AF than men and some have suggested this may be due to undertreatment with warfarin. However, one study of patients 65 years or older with recently diagnosed AF found warfarin use played no part in the increased risk of stroke among female patients.

• #30 Cardiac arrhythmias in low- and middle-income countries – Mkoko – Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy

  https://cdt.amegroups.org/article/view/31223/html

  AF patients in LMICs tend to present younger and in heart failure compared to HICs and tend to have high prevalence of stroke at 1027% with severe and debilitating symptoms and are less likely to receive guideline directed management. […] The true burden of the disease and current management trends are not well understood in most LMICs. […] The World Heart Federation (WHF) identifies three main areas of care gaps in the management of AF in LMICs including inadequate screening for AF among high risk individuals and those with non-valvular AF that may not have significant symptoms, low rates of initiation on anticoagulation, and the lack of country specific AF data to tailor interventions particularly in LMIC where the extent of care gap is highly variable. […] The roadblocks highlighted by the WHF as contributing factors to the care gaps include shortage of healthcare professionals with adequate training in AF management including ECG interpretation and initiation of anticoagulation therapy, difficulty accessing health care particularly by those who live in rural areas, reluctance of physicians and patients to initiate oral anticoagulation therapy, and non-adherence to treatment due to lack of access to anticoagulants or lack of awareness of the importance of medication adherence.

• #31 Global epidemiology of mental disorder in atrial fibrillation between 1998-2021: A systematic review and meta-analysis

  https://www.wjgnet.com/2220-3206/full/v14/i1/179.htm

  Atrial fibrillation (AF), an irregular and rapid heart rate, is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias. The prevalence of AF has increased steadily over the past three decades, with approximately 60 million people worldwide currently suffering from it. It has been demonstrated that age, gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes, and genetic predisposition are all recognized risk factors for the development and progression of AF. The continued increase in AF prevalence and mortality adversely affects patients’ quality of life with a significant burden on health and economic development. […] Recently, mental disorders have become a serious concern worldwide. As reported by WHO in 2019, 970 million people worldwide have mental disorders, with anxiety and depression being the two most common categories. Emerging evidence has shown that patients with acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases are at a higher risk of developing mental disorders. Mental disorders are also on the agenda for patients with AF. Studies have shown that patients with AF have a poorer quality of life than patients with other cardiovascular diseases, regardless of disease symptoms, which directly affects their psychological well-being.

• #32 Global epidemiology of mental disorder in atrial fibrillation between 1998-2021: A systematic review and meta-analysis

  https://www.wjgnet.com/2220-3206/full/v14/i1/179.htm

  In this study, we found that the prevalence of depression and anxiety among patients with AF varies with sex, region, and evaluation scales, suggesting the need for psychological interventions for patients with AF in clinical practice. […] The prevalence rates of depression and anxiety in adults with AF were 24.3% and 14.5%, respectively. Among adult males with AF, the prevalence was 11.7% and 8.7%, respectively, whereas in females it was 19.8% and 10.1%, respectively. In older adults with AF, the prevalence rates of depression and anxiety were 40.3% and 33.6%, respectively. The highest regional prevalence of depression and anxiety was observed in European (30.2%) and North American (19.8%) patients with AF. […] This study was conducted according to the PRISMA 2009 statement and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. […] We found that the prevalence of depression and anxiety among patients with AF was differentially distributed according to sex, region, and evaluation scales, suggesting the need for psychological interventions for patients with AF in clinical practice.

• #33 Epidemiology and Management of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation

  https://www.ajmc.com/view/apr04-1781ps050-s057

  AF is associated with significant mortality and morbidity because it increases the risk of stroke and thromboembolism. The overall risk for thromboembolic events in patients with nonrheumatic AF increases 5-fold. For those 65 years of age, there is a 5% to 7% yearly risk for the disorder. The attributable risk of AF-related stroke increases with age, from 1.5% in people 50 to 59 years to 23.5% in those 80 to 89 years. […] The incidence of thromboembolic events in patients with AF that persisted for less than 48 hours before converting to sinus rhythm is 0.8%. Although the incidence is small when compared to the 5% to 7% risk of stroke in patients with prolonged AF, it is still significant. These studies recommend the use of anticoagulation therapy in all patients with new-onset AF, regardless of its duration.

• #34 2. Epidemiology

  https://ccs.ca/guideline/2020-atrial-fibrillation/chapter-2-epidemiology/

  AF is independently associated with a 1.5- to 4-fold increased risk of mortality, which is predominantly due to increased risk of thromboembolic events and ventricular dysfunction. Nonanticoagulated patients with AF have a 3- to 5-fold increased risk of stroke, which are generally more severe (greater resource utilization, long-term disability, and mortality) and more recurrent than strokes unrelated to AF. To date, the only therapeutic intervention that has been consistently and definitively shown to improve survival in the AF population is the use of oral anticoagulation (OAC). Strategies targeting modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and relevant comorbid conditions offer potential opportunities to further improve survival. […] The economic burden of AF care is substantial. A significant proportion of AF health care expenses are attributed to the direct costs associated with hospitalization and the provision of acute care. In Canada, AF resulted in 8815 same-day procedures, 76,964 ED visits, and 64,214 acute care admissions (25,892 with AF as the principal diagnosis and 38,222 with AF as a comorbid diagnosis) in the 2007-2008 fiscal year. The annual direct cost of AF care adjusted to 2020 Canadian dollars (CAD$) was $956 million: $66 million for ED visits with AF as the principal diagnosis and $20 million with comorbid AF; $204 million for hospitalization with AF as the principal diagnosis and $634 million with comorbid AF; and $32 million for AF-related day procedures. On a per-patient basis, the excess annual direct cost of AF has been estimated to be $16,944-$19,529 (adjusted 2020 US dollars). In addition to these direct costs, the annual indirect costs (eg, days of work missed because of illness) have been estimated to be $3082 higher for AF patients compared with those without AF. It is important to recognize that the cost of care is not uniform across the spectrum of AF. Specifically, the annual inpatient and outpatient direct costs are more than twice as high for patients with primary AF compared with patients with secondary AF.

• #35 Arrhythmias – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558923/

  Arrhythmia entails a broad spectrum of disorders of heart rate and rhythm abnormalities. Arrhythmia is broadly categorized into bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmia based on the heart rate. […] The prevalence of arrhythmias is expected to be 1.5% to 5% in the general population, with atrial fibrillation being the most common. […] The overall presence of arrhythmia is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. […] Arrhythmias can pose a diagnostic dilemma. The patient presentation can be varied even for the same arrhythmia and can require a different management approach based on the patient’s clinical condition and characteristics. […] It has been shown that hospitals with a dedicated arrhythmia team consisting of a nurse, electrophysiologist, noninvasive arrhythmia expert, and internist have shown significant improvement in the outcomes of patients.

• #36 Arrhythmia – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrhythmia

  Arrhythmia affects millions of people. […] In Europe and North America, as of 2014, atrial fibrillation affects about 2% to 3% of the population. […] Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter resulted in 112,000 deaths in 2013, up from 29,000 in 1990. […] However, in most recent cases concerning the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, cardiac arrhythmias are commonly developed and associated with high morbidity and mortality among patients hospitalized with the COVID-19 infection, due to the infection’s ability to cause myocardial injury. […] Sudden cardiac death is the cause of about half of deaths due to cardiovascular disease and about 15% of all deaths globally. […] About 80% of sudden cardiac death is the result of ventricular arrhythmias. […] Arrhythmias may occur at any age but are more common among older people. […] Arrhythmias may also occur in children; however, the normal range for the heart rate varies with age.

• #37 About Atrial Fibrillation | Heart Disease | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/atrial-fibrillation.html

  Atrial fibrillation, often called AFib or AF, is the most common type of treated heart arrhythmia. […] Atrial Fibrillation is the most common type of heart arrhythmia. […] It is estimated that 12.1 million people in the US will have AFib in S12. […] In 2021, AFib was mentioned on 232,030 death certificates and was the underlying cause of death in 28,037 of those deaths. […] The risk for AFib increases with age. […] AFib increases a person’s risk for stroke. […] More than 454,000 hospitalizations with AFib as the primary diagnosis happen each year in the US. […] The condition contributes to about 158,000 deaths each year. […] The death rate from AFib as the primary or a contributing cause of death has been rising for more than two decades.

• #38 Epidemiology of major heart rhythm and conduction disorders.

  https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/docs/epidemiology-of-major-heart-rhythm-and-conduction-disorders

  BACKGROUND: Heart rhythm and conduction disorders cover a variety of pathologies, ranging from the benign to the immediately life threatening. AIMS: To describe the epidemiology of patients hospitalized for arrhythmias in France, and to estimate the prevalence and mortality associated with these disorders, divided into three separate groups: atrial fibrillation and flutter; conduction disorders; and ventricular tachycardia/cardiac arrest. […] At 1st January 2023, the prevalence of patients who had been hospitalized with major rhythm and conduction disorders was 2,740,141: 2,027,900 with atrial fibrillation/flutter; 999,692 with conduction disorders; and 214,989 with ventricular tachycardia/cardiac arrest. […] Mortality at the end of hospitalization reached 44% for patients hospitalized for ventricular tachycardia/cardiac arrest.

• #39 Arrhythmia – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrhythmia

  Arrhythmia affects millions of people. […] In Europe and North America, as of 2014, atrial fibrillation affects about 2% to 3% of the population. […] Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter resulted in 112,000 deaths in 2013, up from 29,000 in 1990. […] However, in most recent cases concerning the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, cardiac arrhythmias are commonly developed and associated with high morbidity and mortality among patients hospitalized with the COVID-19 infection, due to the infection’s ability to cause myocardial injury. […] Sudden cardiac death is the cause of about half of deaths due to cardiovascular disease and about 15% of all deaths globally. […] About 80% of sudden cardiac death is the result of ventricular arrhythmias. […] Arrhythmias may occur at any age but are more common among older people. […] Arrhythmias may also occur in children; however, the normal range for the heart rate varies with age.

• #40 Facts and Statistics About Atrial Fibrillation

  https://www.healthline.com/health/living-with-atrial-fibrillation/facts-statistics-infographic

  Whether you have symptoms or not, AFib puts you at greater risk of stroke. According to the American Heart Association, if you have AFib, you’re 5 times more likely to have a stroke than someone who doesn’t have it. […] The total cost for AFib in the United States came in at around $26 billion dollars per year. […] According to the CDC, more than 750,000 hospitalizations occur each year because of AFib. The condition also contributes to nearly 130,000 deaths each year. […] The CDC reports that the death rate from AFib as the primary or contributing cause of death has been rising for more than two decades.

• #41 What doctors wish patients knew about atrial fibrillation | American Medical Association

  https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/population-care/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-atrial-fibrillation

  Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a condition that disrupts this delicate balance, leaving millions of adults in the U.S. at risk for complications such as stroke and heart failure. […] More than 5 million adults in the U.S. are living with AFib, and more than 12 million people are projected to have the condition by 2030. […] About one-third of people with AFib don’t know they have it, which is why it is important to become familiar with the risk factors and follow up with your physician as needed. […] Atrial fibrillation causes the upper chambers of the heart to quiver instead of contracting properly. […] Atrial fibrillation disrupts this process, and blood can stagnate, increasing the risk of clot formation. […] These clots can develop in the upper chambers of the heart and potentially lead to a stroke which is a major complication of AFib.

• #42 Atrial Fibrillation: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/151066-overview

  AF is the most frequently encountered cardiac arrhythmia. It affects more than 2.7 to 6.1 million persons in the United States which is expected to rise to 12.1 million in 2030. AF is strongly age-dependent, affecting 4% of individuals older than 60 years and 8% of persons older than 80 years. Approximately 25% of individuals aged 40 years and older will develop AF during their lifetime. The prevalence of AF is 0.1% in persons younger than 55 years, 3.8% in persons 60 years or older, and 10% in persons 80 years or older. With the projected increase in the elderly population in the United States, the prevalence of AF is expected to more than double by the year 2050. AF is uncommon in childhood except after cardiac surgery. The incidence of AF is significantly higher in men than in women in all age groups, although this effect may be mediated through the difference in average height between men and women. AF appears to be more common in White individuals (30%-40% overall lifetime risk) than in Black persons (20% overall lifetime risk) and Chinese persons (about 15% overall lifetime risk), with Black individuals having less than half the age-adjusted risk of developing AF. In 10-15% of cases of AF, the disease occurs in the absence of comorbidities. However, AF is often associated with other cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension; heart failure; diabetes-related heart disease; ischemic heart disease; and valvular, dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, and congenital cardiomyopathies. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study suggests reduced kidney function and presence of albuminuria are strongly associated with AF. The rate of ischemic stroke in patients with nonrheumatic AF averages 5% a year, which is somewhere between 2 and 7 times the rate of stroke in patients without AF. The risk of stroke is not due solely to AF; it increases substantially in the presence of other cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of stroke in patients younger than 60 years is less than 0.5%; however, in those older than 70 years, the prevalence doubles with each decade. The attributable risk of stroke from AF is estimated to be 1.5% for those aged 50-59 years, and it approaches 30% for those aged 80-89 years. Women are at a higher risk of stroke due to AF than men and some have suggested this may be due to undertreatment with warfarin. However, one study of patients 65 years or older with recently diagnosed AF found warfarin use played no part in the increased risk of stroke among female patients.

• #43 Atrial Fibrillation: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/151066-overview

  AF is the most frequently encountered cardiac arrhythmia. It affects more than 2.7 to 6.1 million persons in the United States which is expected to rise to 12.1 million in 2030. AF is strongly age-dependent, affecting 4% of individuals older than 60 years and 8% of persons older than 80 years. Approximately 25% of individuals aged 40 years and older will develop AF during their lifetime. The prevalence of AF is 0.1% in persons younger than 55 years, 3.8% in persons 60 years or older, and 10% in persons 80 years or older. With the projected increase in the elderly population in the United States, the prevalence of AF is expected to more than double by the year 2050. AF is uncommon in childhood except after cardiac surgery. The incidence of AF is significantly higher in men than in women in all age groups, although this effect may be mediated through the difference in average height between men and women. AF appears to be more common in White individuals (30%-40% overall lifetime risk) than in Black persons (20% overall lifetime risk) and Chinese persons (about 15% overall lifetime risk), with Black individuals having less than half the age-adjusted risk of developing AF. In 10-15% of cases of AF, the disease occurs in the absence of comorbidities. However, AF is often associated with other cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension; heart failure; diabetes-related heart disease; ischemic heart disease; and valvular, dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, and congenital cardiomyopathies. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study suggests reduced kidney function and presence of albuminuria are strongly associated with AF. The rate of ischemic stroke in patients with nonrheumatic AF averages 5% a year, which is somewhere between 2 and 7 times the rate of stroke in patients without AF. The risk of stroke is not due solely to AF; it increases substantially in the presence of other cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of stroke in patients younger than 60 years is less than 0.5%; however, in those older than 70 years, the prevalence doubles with each decade. The attributable risk of stroke from AF is estimated to be 1.5% for those aged 50-59 years, and it approaches 30% for those aged 80-89 years. Women are at a higher risk of stroke due to AF than men and some have suggested this may be due to undertreatment with warfarin. However, one study of patients 65 years or older with recently diagnosed AF found warfarin use played no part in the increased risk of stroke among female patients.

• #44 How Many People Have A-Fib? Three Times More Than We Thought | UC San Francisco

  https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/09/428416/how-many-people-have-fib-three-times-more-we-thought

  In the first national estimate in two decades, UCSF reports that 10.5 million Americans have atrial fibrillation, a dangerous but highly treatable arrhythmia. […] Atrial fibrillation, a rapid, irregular heartbeat that can lead to stroke or sudden death, is three times more common than previously thought, affecting nearly 5% of the population, or 10.5 million U.S. adults, according to new estimates from UC San Francisco. […] A-Fib, as the condition is commonly known, has been on the rise for at least the past decade, driven by the aging of the population, along with increasing rates of hypertension, diabetes and obesity. […] About a third of people with A-Fib will experience a stroke without proper treatment. […] Atrial fibrillation doubles the risk of mortality, is one of the most common causes of stroke, increases risks of heart failure, myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease and dementia, and results in lower quality of life, said first author Jean Jacques Noubiap, MD, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar at UCSF with a specialty in global cardiovascular health.

• #45 2. Epidemiology

  https://ccs.ca/guideline/2020-atrial-fibrillation/chapter-2-epidemiology/

  AF is independently associated with a 1.5- to 4-fold increased risk of mortality, which is predominantly due to increased risk of thromboembolic events and ventricular dysfunction. Nonanticoagulated patients with AF have a 3- to 5-fold increased risk of stroke, which are generally more severe (greater resource utilization, long-term disability, and mortality) and more recurrent than strokes unrelated to AF. To date, the only therapeutic intervention that has been consistently and definitively shown to improve survival in the AF population is the use of oral anticoagulation (OAC). Strategies targeting modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and relevant comorbid conditions offer potential opportunities to further improve survival. […] The economic burden of AF care is substantial. A significant proportion of AF health care expenses are attributed to the direct costs associated with hospitalization and the provision of acute care. In Canada, AF resulted in 8815 same-day procedures, 76,964 ED visits, and 64,214 acute care admissions (25,892 with AF as the principal diagnosis and 38,222 with AF as a comorbid diagnosis) in the 2007-2008 fiscal year. The annual direct cost of AF care adjusted to 2020 Canadian dollars (CAD$) was $956 million: $66 million for ED visits with AF as the principal diagnosis and $20 million with comorbid AF; $204 million for hospitalization with AF as the principal diagnosis and $634 million with comorbid AF; and $32 million for AF-related day procedures. On a per-patient basis, the excess annual direct cost of AF has been estimated to be $16,944-$19,529 (adjusted 2020 US dollars). In addition to these direct costs, the annual indirect costs (eg, days of work missed because of illness) have been estimated to be $3082 higher for AF patients compared with those without AF. It is important to recognize that the cost of care is not uniform across the spectrum of AF. Specifically, the annual inpatient and outpatient direct costs are more than twice as high for patients with primary AF compared with patients with secondary AF.

• #46 2. Epidemiology

  https://ccs.ca/guideline/2020-atrial-fibrillation/chapter-2-epidemiology/

  AF is independently associated with a 1.5- to 4-fold increased risk of mortality, which is predominantly due to increased risk of thromboembolic events and ventricular dysfunction. Nonanticoagulated patients with AF have a 3- to 5-fold increased risk of stroke, which are generally more severe (greater resource utilization, long-term disability, and mortality) and more recurrent than strokes unrelated to AF. To date, the only therapeutic intervention that has been consistently and definitively shown to improve survival in the AF population is the use of oral anticoagulation (OAC). Strategies targeting modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and relevant comorbid conditions offer potential opportunities to further improve survival. […] The economic burden of AF care is substantial. A significant proportion of AF health care expenses are attributed to the direct costs associated with hospitalization and the provision of acute care. In Canada, AF resulted in 8815 same-day procedures, 76,964 ED visits, and 64,214 acute care admissions (25,892 with AF as the principal diagnosis and 38,222 with AF as a comorbid diagnosis) in the 2007-2008 fiscal year. The annual direct cost of AF care adjusted to 2020 Canadian dollars (CAD$) was $956 million: $66 million for ED visits with AF as the principal diagnosis and $20 million with comorbid AF; $204 million for hospitalization with AF as the principal diagnosis and $634 million with comorbid AF; and $32 million for AF-related day procedures. On a per-patient basis, the excess annual direct cost of AF has been estimated to be $16,944-$19,529 (adjusted 2020 US dollars). In addition to these direct costs, the annual indirect costs (eg, days of work missed because of illness) have been estimated to be $3082 higher for AF patients compared with those without AF. It is important to recognize that the cost of care is not uniform across the spectrum of AF. Specifically, the annual inpatient and outpatient direct costs are more than twice as high for patients with primary AF compared with patients with secondary AF.

• #47 2. Epidemiology

  https://ccs.ca/guideline/2020-atrial-fibrillation/chapter-2-epidemiology/

  AF is independently associated with a 1.5- to 4-fold increased risk of mortality, which is predominantly due to increased risk of thromboembolic events and ventricular dysfunction. Nonanticoagulated patients with AF have a 3- to 5-fold increased risk of stroke, which are generally more severe (greater resource utilization, long-term disability, and mortality) and more recurrent than strokes unrelated to AF. To date, the only therapeutic intervention that has been consistently and definitively shown to improve survival in the AF population is the use of oral anticoagulation (OAC). Strategies targeting modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and relevant comorbid conditions offer potential opportunities to further improve survival. […] The economic burden of AF care is substantial. A significant proportion of AF health care expenses are attributed to the direct costs associated with hospitalization and the provision of acute care. In Canada, AF resulted in 8815 same-day procedures, 76,964 ED visits, and 64,214 acute care admissions (25,892 with AF as the principal diagnosis and 38,222 with AF as a comorbid diagnosis) in the 2007-2008 fiscal year. The annual direct cost of AF care adjusted to 2020 Canadian dollars (CAD$) was $956 million: $66 million for ED visits with AF as the principal diagnosis and $20 million with comorbid AF; $204 million for hospitalization with AF as the principal diagnosis and $634 million with comorbid AF; and $32 million for AF-related day procedures. On a per-patient basis, the excess annual direct cost of AF has been estimated to be $16,944-$19,529 (adjusted 2020 US dollars). In addition to these direct costs, the annual indirect costs (eg, days of work missed because of illness) have been estimated to be $3082 higher for AF patients compared with those without AF. It is important to recognize that the cost of care is not uniform across the spectrum of AF. Specifically, the annual inpatient and outpatient direct costs are more than twice as high for patients with primary AF compared with patients with secondary AF.

• #48 Facts and Statistics About Atrial Fibrillation

  https://www.healthline.com/health/living-with-atrial-fibrillation/facts-statistics-infographic

  Whether you have symptoms or not, AFib puts you at greater risk of stroke. According to the American Heart Association, if you have AFib, you’re 5 times more likely to have a stroke than someone who doesn’t have it. […] The total cost for AFib in the United States came in at around $26 billion dollars per year. […] According to the CDC, more than 750,000 hospitalizations occur each year because of AFib. The condition also contributes to nearly 130,000 deaths each year. […] The CDC reports that the death rate from AFib as the primary or contributing cause of death has been rising for more than two decades.

• #49 Arrhythmias – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558923/

  Arrhythmia entails a broad spectrum of disorders of heart rate and rhythm abnormalities. Arrhythmia is broadly categorized into bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmia based on the heart rate. […] The prevalence of arrhythmias is expected to be 1.5% to 5% in the general population, with atrial fibrillation being the most common. […] The overall presence of arrhythmia is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. […] Arrhythmias can pose a diagnostic dilemma. The patient presentation can be varied even for the same arrhythmia and can require a different management approach based on the patient’s clinical condition and characteristics. […] It has been shown that hospitals with a dedicated arrhythmia team consisting of a nurse, electrophysiologist, noninvasive arrhythmia expert, and internist have shown significant improvement in the outcomes of patients.

• #50 Diagnosing Supraventricular Arrhythmias | NYU Langone Health

  https://nyulangone.org/conditions/supraventricular-arrhythmias/diagnosis

  Cardiac electrophysiologists at NYU Langones Heart Rhythm Center are experts in diagnosing and treating people with all types of supraventricular arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. […] To diagnose a supraventricular arrhythmia, your heart rhythm specialist performs a physical exam and asks about your medical and family history to determine your risk for arrhythmias. Diagnostic testing including electrocardiogram, surveillance monitoring, electrophysiologic studies, imaging tests, and genetic testing might also be requested. […] Some supraventricular arrhythmias occur intermittently, so your doctor may order tests that record your heart rhythm over a set period of time, from 24 hours to 2 years. […] Because some arrhythmias occur intermittently, your cardiologist may recommend an implantable cardiac loop recorder to provide continuous monitoring of abnormal rhythm for up to two years. […] Certain types of supraventricular arrhythmias may be inherited. Your doctor may recommend genetic testing at NYU Langones Inherited Arrhythmia Program to determine whether a genetic heart rhythm disorder is the cause of the arrhythmia.

• #51

  http://www.cardiacbc.ca/health-info/heart-conditions/abnormal-heart-rhythm

  Abnormalities of heart rate and/or rhythm are called arrhythmias. Types of arrhythmia include: […] The causes of arrhythmia can also vary: […] Symptoms of arrhythmia vary from person to person. Some arrhythmias don’t have any warning signs and are only discovered through medical or genetic testing. […] Common diagnostic tests for heart rhythm disorders include: […] Treatment will depend upon the type and severity of the arrhythmia. Many arrhythmias are treatable with lifestyle changes, medications, and non-surgical techniques. […] In BC, specialized programs and clinics provide heart rhythm patients with access to healthcare teams, treatment plans, education and counselling. […] A number of procedures are used to treat heart rhythm problems. These procedures are performed in hospital and may involve either surgical or minimally-invasive techniques (e.g. catheterization).

• #52 Incidence and timing of potentially high-risk arrhythmias detected through long term continuous ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring | BMC Cardiovascular Disorders | Full Text

  https://bmccardiovascdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12872-016-0210-x

  Ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring is the standard to screen for high-risk arrhythmias. […] We evaluated the clinical utility of a novel, leadless electrode, single-patient-use ECG monitor that stores up to 14 days of a continuous recording to measure the burden and timing of potentially high-risk arrhythmias. […] We categorized potentially high-risk arrhythmias into two types: (1) ventricular arrhythmias including non-sustained and sustained ventricular tachycardia and (2) bradyarrhythmias including sinus pauses 3 s, atrial fibrillation pauses 5 s, and high-grade heart block (Mobitz Type II or third-degree heart block). […] A significant percentage of potentially high-risk arrhythmias are not identified within 48-h of ambulatory ECG monitoring. Longer-term continuous ambulatory ECG monitoring provides incremental detection of these potentially clinically relevant arrhythmic events.

• #53 Diagnosing Atrial Fibrillation & Atrial Flutter | NYU Langone Health

  https://nyulangone.org/conditions/atrial-fibrillation-atrial-flutter/diagnosis

  Atrial flutter causes a fast but regular heartbeatsometimes as rapid as 350 beats per minute. Atrial flutter occurs when certain electrical signals do not reach the ventricles of the heart. Like AFib, this rapid heartbeat also increases the risk of developing blood clots and stroke. The condition can be temporary or ongoing. […] A surveillance monitor, including a Holter device, ambulatory telemetry device, or implantable cardiac loop recorder, may be recommended if you have intermittent and unpredictable episodes of arrhythmia. […] A Holter device is a small, wearable surveillance device that is the size of a smartphone. It records changes in heart rhythm over a 24- or 48-hour period. Your doctor uses the test results to determine whether there is evidence of a heart rhythm disorder. […] An ambulatory telemetry device is a lightweight, portable heart monitor that is worn for up to two weeks to measure your hearts electrical activity for signs of a heart rhythm disorder. Test results are sent wirelessly to your doctor for review via a secure website. […] An implantable cardiac loop recorder is a small device thats placed under the skin of the chest to continuously monitor and record your heart rhythm for up to two years. This device is used in the Reveal LINQ Heart Failure study to monitor people who are at increased risk of stroke.

• #54 Diagnosing Supraventricular Arrhythmias | NYU Langone Health

  https://nyulangone.org/conditions/supraventricular-arrhythmias/diagnosis

  Cardiac electrophysiologists at NYU Langones Heart Rhythm Center are experts in diagnosing and treating people with all types of supraventricular arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. […] To diagnose a supraventricular arrhythmia, your heart rhythm specialist performs a physical exam and asks about your medical and family history to determine your risk for arrhythmias. Diagnostic testing including electrocardiogram, surveillance monitoring, electrophysiologic studies, imaging tests, and genetic testing might also be requested. […] Some supraventricular arrhythmias occur intermittently, so your doctor may order tests that record your heart rhythm over a set period of time, from 24 hours to 2 years. […] Because some arrhythmias occur intermittently, your cardiologist may recommend an implantable cardiac loop recorder to provide continuous monitoring of abnormal rhythm for up to two years. […] Certain types of supraventricular arrhythmias may be inherited. Your doctor may recommend genetic testing at NYU Langones Inherited Arrhythmia Program to determine whether a genetic heart rhythm disorder is the cause of the arrhythmia.

• #55 Incidence and timing of potentially high-risk arrhythmias detected through long term continuous ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring | BMC Cardiovascular Disorders | Full Text

  https://bmccardiovascdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12872-016-0210-x

  Emerging evidence suggests that longer wear times yield greater arrhythmia detection in selected at-risk patients that could impact clinical decision-making and outcomes. […] Our study suggests that longer term monitoring up to 14 days resulted in high patient compliance, and greater detection of high-risk arrhythmias than 24- or 48-h monitoring strategies. […] Although the bulk of arrhythmias were detected within the first 7 days, longer-term monitoring between 7 and 14 days yielded a significant number of likely clinically meaningful, potentially high-risk arrhythmias.

• #56 What doctors wish patients knew about atrial fibrillation | American Medical Association

  https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/population-care/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-atrial-fibrillation

  Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a condition that disrupts this delicate balance, leaving millions of adults in the U.S. at risk for complications such as stroke and heart failure. […] More than 5 million adults in the U.S. are living with AFib, and more than 12 million people are projected to have the condition by 2030. […] About one-third of people with AFib don’t know they have it, which is why it is important to become familiar with the risk factors and follow up with your physician as needed. […] Atrial fibrillation causes the upper chambers of the heart to quiver instead of contracting properly. […] Atrial fibrillation disrupts this process, and blood can stagnate, increasing the risk of clot formation. […] These clots can develop in the upper chambers of the heart and potentially lead to a stroke which is a major complication of AFib.

• #57 What doctors wish patients knew about atrial fibrillation | American Medical Association

  https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/population-care/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-atrial-fibrillation

  The younger you are, the less likely you are to develop AFib. […] As you get older, if you look at the patient population of about 60 years old, the lifetime risk of developing AFib is almost one in four. […] Age is a major risk factor for atrial fibrillation, but so is high blood pressure, which causes one in five cases of AFib. […] Additionally, diabetes and other heart problems and structural problems such as blockages in your heart arteries or heart failure are also risk factors. […] AFib increases the risk of stroke, and therefore, if AFib goes undetected for a long time, a stroke may be your first symptom. […] If we intervene sooner in patients with AFib, their outcomes improve significantly. […] The latest AFib guidelines define a subpopulation of patients at high risk of developing the condition.

• #58 Global surge in serious heart rhythm disorders sparks urgent call to action from experts: 1 in 3 people at risk

  https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/global-surge-in-serious-heart-rhythm-disorders-sparks-urgent-call-to-action-from

  1 in 3 people worldwide will develop a potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorder in their lifetime, yet awareness remains critically low. […] Heart rhythm disorders, also known as cardiac arrhythmias, occur when the hearts electrical conduction system malfunctions, causing the heart to beat too quickly, slowly, or irregularly. […] The most common heart rhythm disorder, atrial fibrillation, has seen a marked rise in global prevalence, from 33.5 million cases in 2010 to 59 million in 2019. […] Heart rhythm disorders are a silent epidemic, says Professor Julian Chun, Chair of the EHRAs Scientific Initiatives Committee. Their prevalence is increasing dramatically, yet many people remain unaware of the risks and symptoms. […] A common myth exists that heart rhythm disorders only impact older adults, but this is far from the truth. […] Held annually on 1 March (1/3), Pulse Day serves as a powerful reminder that 1 in 3 people is at risk of developing a serious heart rhythm disorder in their lifetime. […] Recognising the signs early through a pulse check could make all the difference in safeguarding your future, she emphasises.

• #59 Epidemiology of atrial fibrillation: European perspective | CLEP

  https://www.dovepress.com/epidemiology-of-atrial-fibrillation-european-perspective-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CLEP

  Given that the prevalence of AF continues to increase, it is crucial to have an updated picture of the epidemiological, clinical, and social impact of AF to plan appropriate interventions and adequately allocate human and economic resources. […] The projected burden of AF in the European population in 2030 is based on estimates of demographic progression in Europe according to Eurostat. […] The most recent studies have confirmed this perception and shown that the prevalence of AF in the general adult population of Europe is more than double that reported just one decade earlier, ranging from 1.9% in Italy, Iceland, and England to 2.3% in Germany and 2.9% in Sweden. […] In developing countries, AF occurs in approximately 0.6% of males and 0.4% of females. […] The prevalence of AF varies with age and sex. AF is present in 0.12%0.16% of subjects younger than 49 years, 3.7%4.2% of those aged 6070 years, and 10%17% of those aged 80 years or older.

• #60 Epidemiology of atrial fibrillation: European perspective | CLEP

  https://www.dovepress.com/epidemiology-of-atrial-fibrillation-european-perspective-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CLEP

  Given that the prevalence of AF continues to increase, it is crucial to have an updated picture of the epidemiological, clinical, and social impact of AF to plan appropriate interventions and adequately allocate human and economic resources. […] The projected burden of AF in the European population in 2030 is based on estimates of demographic progression in Europe according to Eurostat. […] The most recent studies have confirmed this perception and shown that the prevalence of AF in the general adult population of Europe is more than double that reported just one decade earlier, ranging from 1.9% in Italy, Iceland, and England to 2.3% in Germany and 2.9% in Sweden. […] In developing countries, AF occurs in approximately 0.6% of males and 0.4% of females. […] The prevalence of AF varies with age and sex. AF is present in 0.12%0.16% of subjects younger than 49 years, 3.7%4.2% of those aged 6070 years, and 10%17% of those aged 80 years or older.

• #61 Cardiac arrhythmias in low- and middle-income countries – Mkoko – Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy

  https://cdt.amegroups.org/article/view/31223/html

  AF patients in LMICs tend to present younger and in heart failure compared to HICs and tend to have high prevalence of stroke at 1027% with severe and debilitating symptoms and are less likely to receive guideline directed management. […] The true burden of the disease and current management trends are not well understood in most LMICs. […] The World Heart Federation (WHF) identifies three main areas of care gaps in the management of AF in LMICs including inadequate screening for AF among high risk individuals and those with non-valvular AF that may not have significant symptoms, low rates of initiation on anticoagulation, and the lack of country specific AF data to tailor interventions particularly in LMIC where the extent of care gap is highly variable. […] The roadblocks highlighted by the WHF as contributing factors to the care gaps include shortage of healthcare professionals with adequate training in AF management including ECG interpretation and initiation of anticoagulation therapy, difficulty accessing health care particularly by those who live in rural areas, reluctance of physicians and patients to initiate oral anticoagulation therapy, and non-adherence to treatment due to lack of access to anticoagulants or lack of awareness of the importance of medication adherence.

• #62 Epidemiology of Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death in Asia

  https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/circj/77/10/77_CJ-13-1129/_article

  Cardiac arrhythmias are cardiac rhythm disorders that comprise an important epidemiological and public health problem. […] Cardiac arrhythmias are significantly associated with increased risks of cardiovascular complications and sudden death, consequently leading to decreased quality of life, disability, high mortality, and healthcare expense. […] Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, and has been further increasing with the aging of society. […] Although the prevalence is relatively lower in Asians than in Westerners, the prognostic impacts on stroke and mortality in Asians are comparable. […] Sudden cardiac death (SCD) occurs in approximately 40 cases per 100,000 persons annually in each country of Asia. […] Most cases are caused by myocardial infarction and ventricular fibrillation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases, but the proportion of myocardial infarction is lower in Asia than in Western countries.

• #63 Epidemiology of Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death in Asia

  https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/circj/77/10/77_CJ-13-1129/_article

  The primary electrophysiological disorders related to channelopathies, such as long QT syndrome, short QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, early repolarization syndrome, and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, are estimated to be responsible for 10% of SCDs. […] Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation has become established as an effective secondary prevention for SCD, and numbers have been increasing annually worldwide. […] New insights into arrhythmic diseases have been emerging from epidemiological, clinical, and genetic research, and contribute to improvements in diagnosis and prognosis.

• #64 Cardiac arrhythmias in low- and middle-income countries – Mkoko – Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy

  https://cdt.amegroups.org/article/view/31223/html

  Many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are undergoing an epidemiological transition. […] With an increasing life expectancy seen in most LMICs, arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation (AF), ventricular arrhythmias due to ischaemic heart disease, sinus node dysfunction (SND) and heart block are expected to increase in these countries. […] This review article will focus on the current epidemiology and discuss the challenges to the management of cardiac arrhythmias and opportunities to improve arrhythmia care in LMICs. […] The prevalence and incidence of AF in HICs remains significantly higher compared to LMICs; however, this difference needs to factor in the substantial lack of data from LMICs that likely significantly underestimates the true disease burden. […] A systematic review of community-based AF epidemiology studies in LMICs showed a prevalence of 0.031.25% in the general population and 0.675.6% in individuals older than 70 years of age.

• #65 Cardiac arrhythmias in low- and middle-income countries – Mkoko – Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy

  https://cdt.amegroups.org/article/view/31223/html

  AF patients in LMICs tend to present younger and in heart failure compared to HICs and tend to have high prevalence of stroke at 1027% with severe and debilitating symptoms and are less likely to receive guideline directed management. […] The true burden of the disease and current management trends are not well understood in most LMICs. […] The World Heart Federation (WHF) identifies three main areas of care gaps in the management of AF in LMICs including inadequate screening for AF among high risk individuals and those with non-valvular AF that may not have significant symptoms, low rates of initiation on anticoagulation, and the lack of country specific AF data to tailor interventions particularly in LMIC where the extent of care gap is highly variable. […] The roadblocks highlighted by the WHF as contributing factors to the care gaps include shortage of healthcare professionals with adequate training in AF management including ECG interpretation and initiation of anticoagulation therapy, difficulty accessing health care particularly by those who live in rural areas, reluctance of physicians and patients to initiate oral anticoagulation therapy, and non-adherence to treatment due to lack of access to anticoagulants or lack of awareness of the importance of medication adherence.

• #66 Cardiac arrhythmias in low- and middle-income countries – Mkoko – Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy

  https://cdt.amegroups.org/article/view/31223/html

  There is also very limited access to invasive management of AF including catheter ablation in LMICs due to the high cost of the procedures and inadequate number of trained experts. […] The burden of cardiac arrhythmias is expected to increase in LMICs. […] Guideline-directed management of cardiac arrhythmias in LMICs is challenging because of the paucity of skilled personnel, lack of basic infrastructure, and the lack of device and ablative therapy for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

• #67 Epidemiology of atrial fibrillation: European perspective | CLEP

  https://www.dovepress.com/epidemiology-of-atrial-fibrillation-european-perspective-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CLEP

  Given that the prevalence of AF continues to increase, it is crucial to have an updated picture of the epidemiological, clinical, and social impact of AF to plan appropriate interventions and adequately allocate human and economic resources. […] The projected burden of AF in the European population in 2030 is based on estimates of demographic progression in Europe according to Eurostat. […] The most recent studies have confirmed this perception and shown that the prevalence of AF in the general adult population of Europe is more than double that reported just one decade earlier, ranging from 1.9% in Italy, Iceland, and England to 2.3% in Germany and 2.9% in Sweden. […] In developing countries, AF occurs in approximately 0.6% of males and 0.4% of females. […] The prevalence of AF varies with age and sex. AF is present in 0.12%0.16% of subjects younger than 49 years, 3.7%4.2% of those aged 6070 years, and 10%17% of those aged 80 years or older.

• #68 How Many People Have A-Fib? Three Times More Than We Thought | UC San Francisco

  https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/09/428416/how-many-people-have-fib-three-times-more-we-thought

  With the growing use of consumer wearables designed to detect atrial fibrillation combined with safer and more effective means to treat it, this current prevalence of atrial fibrillation in health care settings may soon be dwarfed by future health care utilization that will occur due to the disease.

• #69 JCDD | Special Issue : Ventricular Arrhythmias: Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Treatment

  https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jcdd/special_issues/E2CBVF9724

  In recent years, new diagnostic and therapeutic techniques have been developed to improve the prognosis of patients suffering from VA. In particular, advanced imaging including computed tomography and magnetic resonance; new techniques to perform catheter ablation; and genetic testing can improve the management of VA. […] The aim of the present Special Issue is to provide a clear and modern overview on the contemporary diagnosis and treatment of VA, with a focus on modern cardiac imaging techniques and catheter ablation procedures. By reading this Special Issue, cardiologists will improve their knowledge by learning about the latest trends in the diagnosis and treatment of VA.

• #70 Certain Cancers Come with Higher Risk of Serious Heart Rhythm Disorder

  https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2020/03/18/08/45/Certain-Cancers-Come-with-Higher-Risk-of-Serious-Heart-Rhythm-Disorder

  The findings suggest that other factors related to the specific type of cancer itself may be contributing to AFib in these patients, Khan said. […] After adjusting for known cardiovascular risk factors and other heart conditions that could lead to AFib (for example, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy and valvular disorder), the odds of having AFib with any cancer was more than twice what would be expected. Prostate cancer ranked highest in association with AFib, followed by breast, lung, colon and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. […] Future studies are needed to clarify what is behind the development of AFib in cancer patients, Khan said. Researchers need to investigate which inflammatory markers may have a greater association with the development of AFib and better understand how to treat AFib more effectively and possibly prevent its onset in cancer patients.

• #71

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11912-023-01445-x

  The new ESC guidelines on cardio-oncology specify two categories either correctable or non-correctable risk factors of occurring LQTc and VA. […] Bradyarrhythmic events can be easily underdiagnosed because they are often asymptomatic. […] Recent studies on the cardiotoxicity of chemotherapeutic treatment suggest that immunotherapies, like immune checkpoint inhibitors or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T), may cause arrhythmias. […] Arrhythmias in oncological patients occur more frequently than in the general population.

• #72 Epidemiology of major heart rhythm and conduction disorders.

  https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/docs/epidemiology-of-major-heart-rhythm-and-conduction-disorders

  Arrhythmias and conduction disorders affect a significant proportion of the population, leading to a large number of hospitalizations and procedures, particularly ablation techniques and pacemaker/defibrillator implantation. Given the extent of regional disparities and the impact of the socioeconomic status of the municipality of residence, targeted prevention and screening strategies should be implemented.

• #73 Coffee doesn’t raise your risk for heart rhythm problems | Epidemiology & Biostatistics

  https://epibiostat.ucsf.edu/news/coffee-doesnt-raise-your-risk-heart-rhythm-problems

  In the largest study of its kind, an investigation by UC San Francisco has found no evidence that moderate coffee consumption can cause cardiac arrhythmia. […] In fact, each additional daily cup of coffee consumed among several hundred thousand individuals was associated with a 3 percent lower risk of any arrhythmia occurring, including atrial fibrillation, premature ventricular contractions, or other common heart conditions, the researchers report. […] „But we found no evidence that caffeine consumption leads to a greater risk of arrhythmias,” said Marcus, who specializes in the treatment of arrhythmias. „Our population-based study provides reassurance that common prohibitions against caffeine to reduce arrhythmia risk are likely unwarranted.” […] Ultimately, approximately 4 percent of the sample developed an arrhythmia. No evidence of a heightened risk of arrhythmias was observed among those genetically predisposed to metabolize caffeine differently. The researchers said that higher amounts of coffee were actually associated with a 3 percent reduced risk of developing an arrhythmia.

• #74 Global surge in serious heart rhythm disorders sparks urgent call to action from experts: 1 in 3 people at risk

  https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/global-surge-in-serious-heart-rhythm-disorders-sparks-urgent-call-to-action-from

  1 in 3 people worldwide will develop a potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorder in their lifetime, yet awareness remains critically low. […] Heart rhythm disorders, also known as cardiac arrhythmias, occur when the hearts electrical conduction system malfunctions, causing the heart to beat too quickly, slowly, or irregularly. […] The most common heart rhythm disorder, atrial fibrillation, has seen a marked rise in global prevalence, from 33.5 million cases in 2010 to 59 million in 2019. […] Heart rhythm disorders are a silent epidemic, says Professor Julian Chun, Chair of the EHRAs Scientific Initiatives Committee. Their prevalence is increasing dramatically, yet many people remain unaware of the risks and symptoms. […] A common myth exists that heart rhythm disorders only impact older adults, but this is far from the truth. […] Held annually on 1 March (1/3), Pulse Day serves as a powerful reminder that 1 in 3 people is at risk of developing a serious heart rhythm disorder in their lifetime. […] Recognising the signs early through a pulse check could make all the difference in safeguarding your future, she emphasises.

• #75 Prospective arrhythmia surveillance after a COVID-19 diagnosis | Open Heart

  https://openheart.bmj.com/content/9/1/e001758

  Cardiac arrhythmias have been observed among patients hospitalised with acute COVID-19 infection, and palpitations remain a common symptom among the much larger outpatient population of COVID-19 survivors in the convalescent stage of the disease. […] To determine arrhythmia prevalence among outpatients after a COVID-19 diagnosis. […] We did not find evidence of malignant or sustained arrhythmias in outpatients after a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. While palpitations were common, symptoms frequently corresponded to sinus rhythm/sinus tachycardia or non-malignant arrhythmias such as isolated ectopy or non-sustained SVT. […] In this prospective observational cohort study that enrolled ambulatory individuals with a recent and confirmed COVID-19 infection, we found a very low incidence of clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias using continuous 14-day electrocardiographic monitoring. […] Although these findings cannot exclude the possibility of serious arrhythmia in select individuals, they do not support a strong or widespread proarrhythmic effect of COVID-19 infection after resolution of acute illness.

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