Study Finds Atrial Fibrillation More Dangerous in Younger Populations Than Once Thought

A new study published in Circulation Arrythmia and Electrophysiology indicates that atrial fibrillation (Afib), which is “on the rise in people under the age of 65, is more dangerous in this increasingly younger population than previously thought.” The study was led by professors of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, and reported on the university’s website.

The study found that “these younger patients were more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure, stroke, or heart attack and had significantly higher rates of comorbidity and mortality compared to similarly aged and gender-matched people who do not have Afib.”

Lead study author Dr. Aditya Bhonsale, M.D., M.H.S., characterized common knowledge among cardiologists as holding that “in people under 65, Afib is extremely uncommon and not detrimental,” despite the lack of data to back that claim up.

Researchers found that, of the 67,221 University of Pittsburgh Medical Center patients seeking care for Afib through 2010 to 2019, “more than a quarter of them (17,335) were under the age of 65, a stark contrast to the 2% prevalence commonly estimated.” It was also found that survival rates for those with Afib were 1.3 to 1.5 times worse for men and 1.82 to 3.16 times worse for women “compared to similarly aged patients who did not have Afib.” These patients also had “high rates of cardiovascular disease risk factors.”