Almost half of people with common heart arrythmia die within 10 years of hospitalisation

New Atlas ^ | April 30, 2024 | Paul McClure

[Red Badger]

Examining long-term outcomes for people with atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common heart rhythm disorder, a new study found that 55% survived to 10 years. The researchers say AF needs to be treated as a chronic illness with serious long-term consequences. AF, or AFib, and its close medical cousin, atrial flutter, are associated with complications such as stroke, heart failure, and heart attack. While there’s an understandable focus on treating these conditions to prevent acute complications, less research has looked at what’s happening in the long term.

Now, a study led by researchers from the University of Queensland’s (UQ) Faculty of Medicine examined clinical outcomes up to 10 years after an acute hospital admission for AF or atrial flutter. The findings are rather grim.

“AF is the most common heart rhythm disorder and the leading cause of heart-related hospitalizations globally, causing symptoms like palpitations, dizziness, and chest pain,” said Linh Ngo, the study’s lead and corresponding author. “The disorder is closely associated with stroke, but we know much less about the risk of recurrent hospitalizations and other consequences such as heart failure or death.”

The researchers looked at hospital admissions across Australia and New Zealand between 2008 and 2017 for 260,492 adults (49.6% female). AF or atrial flutter was the primary diagnosis. The primary outcome was death from all causes, including deaths that occurred in the community. Secondary outcomes were loss in life expectancy attributable to AF or flutter, associated outcomes (e.g., stroke, heart failure, heart attack) linked to AF or flutter, re-hospitalizations for AF or flutter, and whether the patient was treated by catheter ablation or cardioversion.

Catheter ablation, or cardiac ablation, involves guiding a thin, flexible tube (catheter) to the heart via a blood vessel.

[catnipman]

also, subsequent to successfully cryoablation by one of the top cryo guys in the nation (Wilbur Su at Banner in Phoenix), a cox maze IV was done during a CABG open heart surgery along with excision of the left atrial appendage as an insurance policy ... good thing too, because i just had my mitral valve replaced five weeks ago and the cardiothoracic surgeon laughed when i brought up the possibility of afib as a consequence of the surgery and said he thought i was likely afib-proof ...

[matthew fuller]

The following is worth repeating, (from the source comment section):

" paul314 April 30, 2024 06:36 AM The beginning point of this study is acute hospitalization, which tends to mean the patient is already seriously ill. Sounds as if it would also make sense to catch and manage atrial fibrillation earlier so that emergency hospital admissions aren't the beginning of the therapeutic window." Thanks, paul314.

[JohnnyP]

My dad had it, my two younger brothers both have it. I was probably on my way to it but I went carnivore six years ago. I dropped weight and got healthy.

[KC_for_Freedom]

Mine was present for at least that long but went unnoticed until an episode of acute respiratory failure. Mine was severe as well, but I went past a CPAP level and live with a ventilator plus supplemental o2. But it’s all good.

The SW algorithm is called AVAP. Means Average Volume Assured Pressure

[Red Badger]

It was an accident.

I had two windows open with the same story but different sources, and copied the title from one and the article from the other..........

[coalminersson]

I have A-Frib

I have a watchman in my heart to thin the blood to prevent clots from going to the brain. I have a link monitor in my chest.

Any one have experience with these?