Heart Condition Lurking in the Shadows: 3 Times More Common Than You Think

Atrial Fibrillation Awareness: What You Need to Know

Atrial fibrillation, or A-fib, is an irregular heartbeat, and recent research reveals that it's much more prevalent than we previously understood. A groundbreaking study released on Wednesday shows that A-fib is three times more common than earlier estimates suggested. Originally, it was thought that about 3.3 million adults in the U.S. were affected. However, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) discovered that the actual number is closer to 10.5 million, accounting for nearly 5% of the adult population in the U.S.

In this compelling study, UCSF investigators analyzed medical records from nearly 30 million adults who received acute or procedural care in California between 2005 and 2019. Among those, around 2 million patients had been diagnosed with A-fib. The percentage of patients diagnosed has increased over time, rising from approximately 4.5% between 2005 and 2009 to 6.8% between 2015 and 2019. By standardizing the data to reflect a national stance, the researchers estimated that at least 10.5 million adults in the U.S. are grappling with A-fib.

A-fib is one of the leading causes of stroke and can elevate the risk of other serious health issues such as heart failure, blood clots, chronic kidney disease, and dementia. Dr. Gregory Marcus, the senior author of the study and a cardiologist at UCSF Health, shared with Yahoo Life that while researchers suspected a higher prevalence of A-fib, the significant difference observed was surprising. "These data also provide comfort to the millions dealing with this condition, reassuring them that they're not alone,” he explains. Dr. Marcus hopes these findings will spur additional resources for A-fib patients, advocating for more funding in research and treatment.

Experts believe the rise in diagnosed cases can be attributed to a mix of increased occurrences and improved detection methods.