The aging of the population and the greater incidence of risk factors could be behind this increase in cases
A new Danish studyPosted in The British medical journal (BMJ), observed an increase in the last 20 years in cases of atrial fibrillation, the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia. Brazilian data also suggests slight growth.
Atrial fibrillation occurs when there is disorganized activation of the atria (the upper chambers of the heart), which do not beat in a coordinated manner. This leads to a deterioration of the mechanical function of the organ. It also causes poor blood circulation, which increases the risk of clots forming, which can travel through the bloodstream and cause spills.
To investigate the disease over time, the authors followed more than 3.5 million adults between the years 2000 and 2022, divided into two time points, each lasting about a decade. Data were obtained from the Danish National Patient Registry.
During this period, a person’s risk of developing atrial fibrillation increased by 24.2%, between 2000 and 2010, at 30.9%, in the second interval evaluated, between 2011 and 2022. Those most affected were those who had had heart failure, a history of heart attack, stroke, diabetes or chronic kidney disease. The most frequent complications after diagnosis were heart failure, followed by stroke.
In Brazil, atrial fibrillation prevalence rates also increased slightly between 1990 and 2019, rising from 519 per 100,000 inhabitants., in 1990, to 537 per 100,000 inhabitants 29 years later, according to the Brazilian Cardiovascular Statistics 2021.
According to cardiologist Eduardo Segalla, of the Israelite Albert Einstein Hospital, several hypotheses explain this increase. “OR aging population, better diagnosis and, above all, better practices and treatments, which guarantee greater survival even in patients with serious heart diseases, which are the main factors for the development of this arrhythmia”, explains Segalla.
What are the causes of atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation can result from several causes. That has cardiovascular disease – AS hypertension, rheumatic disease with compromised valves and coronary insufficiency – has a three to five times greater risk of developing the problem. This is because these conditions lead to changes in the heart muscle, which cause an overload in the chambers and change the speed of the heart rhythm, favoring the appearance of arrhythmias.
Additionally, problems such as heart attack and heart failure can leave fibrosis (scarring), affecting the muscle’s ability to stretch. Already the diabetes and metabolic syndrome can lead to inflammation of the myocyte, the heart muscle cell, with structural changes in the myocardium, which also impair its functioning.
Since the incidence of atrial fibrillation increases with age, the increased longevity tends to increase the number of cases. To give you an idea, while in the 25 to 35 age group it affects 0.2 to 0.5% of the population, fibrillation can reach 9% among those aged between 62 and 90.
On the other hand, it can also occur in people with a healthy heart, for example due to the use of drugs, such as cocaine, and the abuse of energy drinks, coffee and alcohol. “You can prevent this arrhythmia with a healthy lifestyleIncluded food adequate physical activity, weight control and adequate sleep, as well as monitoring and treatment of diseases that can compromise the structure of the heart, if applicable,” says the Einstein specialist.
Treatment depends on the stage of diagnosis. In addition to heart rate control, which can be done with drugs and, in some cases, with ablation (the procedure that eliminates the focus of the arrhythmia), the use of anticoagulants is essential to reduce the risk of stroke. Follow-up by a specialist is necessary to evaluate the causes of the problem.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
