Fib Contributes to Wide Range of Other Health Conditions

It is already known that atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of stroke and death, as well as higher medical costs and a reduced quality of life. “Any condition that affects the conduction of electrical impulses in the heart can cause atrial fibrillation”, like heart disease or thyroid disease, or the cause may be unclear, he said.

The study included over 250,000 Swedish adults with atrial fibrillation, a known risk factor for stroke.

Physicians “need to remember that stroke is not the only adverse outcome that can happen to their patients with atrial fibrillation”, said Dr. Elsayed Z. Soliman of Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston Salem, North Carolina, who also was not part of the review.

Researchers said the study “adds to the growing literature on the association between atrial fibrillation and cardiovascular outcomes beyond stroke”.

“A trial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of death and an increased risk of cardiovascular and renal disease”.

Absolute risk increases (based on the USA population) included 3.8 events per 1,000 participant years for all cause mortality, 1.4 events per 1,000 participant years for ischaemic heart disease, and 6.6 events per 1,000 participant years for chronic kidney disease.

People with an irregular heartbeat have a higher risk of heart attacks, heart failure, kidney problems and sudden cardiac death, a new study has found.

Atrial fibrillation affects roughly one million people in the UK.

Individuals with atrial fibrillation (heart rhythm disorder) who drink alcohol are more likely to experience stroke, compared to those who don’t drink.

“The risk factors for AF, which include being over 65, suffering from coronary heart disease, high blood pressure or heart valve disease, are well established”.

“This large review found that AF is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and overall death”.

Now people with irregular heartbeat are prescribed anti-coagulant drugs, but they do little to prevent other heart conditions.

“Having an irregular pulse can be a sign of AF, therefore you should know your pulse”.