Astonishing rise in abnormal heart rhythms

Number of UK people with heart rhythm condition rises by 50% in a decade

https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2023/may/new-figures-show-the-number-of-uk-people-with-heart-rhythm-condition

Atrial fibrillation, 1.5 million sufferers in the UK

1milloin in 2013 – a 50% rise over the decade.

One in 45 people in the UK

Five times more likely to stroke, potentially fatal or life-changing

Believed to contribute to one in five strokes

Estimated, at least another 270,000 people undiagnosed

(= 1,770,000)

Symptoms of atrial fibrillation

Palpitations

Breathlessness

Dizziness

Paroxysmal

Our medical director Professor Sir Nilesh Samani

These figures show a quite astonishing rise in the number of people diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.

Research has helped us understand the links between atrial fibrillation and stroke

We also need to continue to harness the power of science to develop new and innovative tools for identifying people at increased risk

BHF
The figures have been released as we launch a new campaign calling on the public to support our research

The campaign aims to inspire people’s wonder at the complexity and preciousness of their own hearts and how lifesaving research can help if it goes wrong.

Questions

What was the rate of increase or change in prevalence during 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023?

Has the increase been correlated with any particular factors that have changed between 2019 and 2023?

What is the strength of any possible correlations?

Is there temporality with possible correlations?

Is there a plausible mechanism to explain correlations?

How do UK figures of increased AF relate to other countries?

Are there any common factors that connect potential changes across differing countries?

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(22)00079-5/fulltext

June 2022

Data only up to 31 December 2017

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atrial-fibrillation/

See a GP or call 111 if:
• you have chest pain that comes and goes
• you have chest pain that goes away quickly but you're still worried
• you notice a sudden change in your heartbeat
• your heart rate is consistently lower than 60 or above 100 (particularly if you're experiencing other symptoms of atrial fibrillation, such as dizziness and shortness of breath)
It's important to get medical advice to make sure it's nothing serious.