Atrial Fibrillation Epidemic?

Australians need to watch their weight and be aware of their blood pressure if they want to avoid atrial fibrillation (AF), a heart condition that can lead to stroke, experts say. New research predicts AF or heart rhythm disorder will swell to "epidemic proportions" in the coming decades in Australia.

This recent study from the Australian Catholic University's Mary MacKillop Institute of Health Research in Melbourne lays out the facts quite clearly. Professor Simon Stewart, co-author of the paper in the MJA says, "We need to start making some inroads with things like high blood pressure and weight levels, we can't afford not to."

Jocasta Ball, David R Thompson, Chantal F Ski, Melinda J Carrington, Tracey Gerber and Simon Stewart (2015). Estimating the current and future prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the Australian adult population,  Med J Aust ; 202 (1): 32-35. (open access)