New research suggests that there may be more than 10.5 million people in the United States living with atrial fibrillation, that is, three times more cases than experts had previously estimated.
- Previous
studies have reported that about 3 million people in the United States
have atrial fibrillation (AFib).
- Researchers
from the University of California – San Francisco discovered that AFib is
three times more common in the U.S. than previously thought.
- Over
the course of the study, scientists found that people with AFib tended to
be younger, less likely to be female, and more likely to have high blood
pressure and diabetes.
Previous studies have reported that about
However, that number may be a lot more than we have
thought, says researchers from University of California – San Francisco.
The researchers report their conclusions in their new
study, recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
AFib
estimates updated for the first time in over 2 decades
Over the last few
years, previous research has reported a
While AFib is generally considered a condition for
older adults over the age of 60, studies have reported an increase of AFib
occurring in people at a
“Atrial fibrillation is a major contributor to the
burden of disease, especially in elderly,” Jean Jacques Noubiap, MD, PhD, a postdoctoral
scholar at the University of California – San Francisco with a specialty in
global cardiovascular health and first author of this study told Medical News
Today.
“However,
prevalence estimates of atrial fibrillation from large populations had not been
updated for more than 2 decades,” he added.
“Atrial fibrillation substantially increases the risks
of
At least
10.55 million U.S. adults have AFib
For this study,
Noubiap and his team analyzed data from almost 30 million adult patients who
had received some type of acute or procedural care in California from 2005 to
2019.
Of those study participants, about 2 million of them
received an AFib diagnosis with the numbers increasing over time from 4.49% of
participants treated between 2005 and 2009, to 6.82% receiving treatment
between 2015 to 2019.
After
standardizing this data for the entire U.S., researchers estimated that the
current AFib prevalence nationwide is at least 10.55 million or about 5% of the
population, which is three times more than previously thought.
Researchers also found that during the course of their
study, people with AFib tended to be of a younger age, less likely to be
female, and more likely to have high blood
pressure and diabetes.
“Our findings are not very surprising,” Noubiap said.
“They reflect what we see in clinical practice, an increasing number of
patients who have atrial fibrillation. Previous studies suggested that there
would [be] a rise in the number of people with atrial fibrillation. However,
our data objectively demonstrate that prior projections severely underestimated
the true prevalence of atrial fibrillation in U.S. adults.”
Are AFib
cases on the rise in younger adults?
The scientists also
discovered that over the length of the study’s time frame, participants with
AFib skewed younger, were less likely to be female, and were more likely to
have high blood pressure and diabetes.
As to why that may be the case, Noubiap explained
that:
“It is likely that atrial
fibrillation is diagnosed earlier due to enhanced detection. Increased
healthcare utilization among females or patients with various comorbidities
such as hypertension and diabetes might heighten their likelihood of having
atrial fibrillation diagnosed during their healthcare encounters.”
However, “[t]he most important driver [for AFib] is
population aging,” he noted.
“In fact, increasing age is the strongest risk factor
for atrial fibrillation,” said Noubiap. ”Furthermore, enhanced atrial
fibrillation detection and improved survival of affected patients also result
in [an] increased number of cases.”
”Finally,” he added, ”the rise in common risk factors
for atrial fibrillation, such as hypertension, obesity,
or diabetes might partly explain the increasing prevalence of atrial
fibrillation.”
After reviewing this study, Nikhil Warrier, MD, a board-certified cardiac
electrophysiologist and medical director of electrophysiology at MemorialCare
Heart & Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain
Valley, CA, told MNT that the authors should be commended as it
shows a glimpse into what we see in our day-to-day patient encounters.
“Namely, increased diagnosis of AFib in younger
patients with significant comorbidities,” Warrier continued. “I suspect that
the prevalence is higher — improved accuracy from wearable devices will likely
[lead] to earlier diagnosis, which will continue to increase the volume of
patients seeking care.”
While “it
is deeply concerning to see an increased prevalence of AFib in younger patients
but known risk factors such as
“Successful programs are great at addressing these
risk factors which lead to improved clinical outcomes for all patients,” Said
Warrier.
MNT also
spoke with Yuriy Dudiy, MD, surgical
director and the Adult ECMO Program in the Department of Cardiac Surgery at
Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, about this study.
“The study reveals a significant rise in A-fib cases,
exceeding prior estimates,” Dudiy, who was also not involved in this research,
told us. “This conservative figure excludes diagnoses from ambulatory clinics
and likely undetected AFib, making the issue even more pressing.”
In his opinion:
“This
is a wake-up call for the medical community, policymakers, and the public.
Policymakers need to address AFib as a major public health concern and allocate
resources, especially since younger patients are increasingly affected, leading
to higher long-term healthcare costs. Medical community must prioritize
prevention, early detection, and effective management of AFib to ensure a
healthier future and reduce the burden on the healthcare system.”
What can you do to lower AFib risk?
For those looking to lower their risk for AFib, Warrier
said that the adage “prevention is better than the cure” applies here, and
Dudiy commented that preventing AFib can be more manageable with some simple
lifestyle changes and healthy habits.
To help lower a person’s AFib risk, recommendations from
both doctors include:
- following a balanced
diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean
proteins, while avoiding excessive sugar, salt, and unhealthy
fats
- improving hypertension control through
medications/diet
- cutting down on alcohol and caffeine consumption
- quitting
smoking
- incorporating at least 30 minutes of
moderate-intensity exercise daily
- managing stress through relaxation techniques
like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga
- getting 7 to 9 hours of quality
sleep each night
- monitoring heart health, especially if the person
has a family history of AFib or other heart conditions
- staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
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