The British Heart Foundation says the number of people with atrial fibrillation has surpassed 1.5 million for the first time – and at least 270,000 others don’t know they have the condition.
The number of people in the UK diagnosed with a heart rhythm condition that puts them at increased risk of stroke has surpassed 1.5 million for the first time.
The British Heart Foundation said its analysis of NHS data on atrial fibrillation – which causes an irregular heartbeat – showed there had been an “amazing” 50% increase in cases of a total of one million in 2013.
The latest figure means one in 45 people in the UK has now been confirmed to have the condition – but the charity fears a further 270,000 people remain undiagnosed and unaware.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of abnormal heart rhythm.
Left untreated, it can significantly increase the risk of a blood clot forming in the heart, which in turn means someone is five times more likely to have a fatal or life-changing stroke.
A normal heart rate should be between 60 and 100 beats per minute when a person is resting – but it can be “significantly higher” than that in people with the condition, according to the NHS.
It can cause dizziness, shortness of breath and fatigue, along with palpitations, but sometimes there are no obvious symptoms.
Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie has been found to have atrial fibrillation after her death
Sufferers include Fleetwood Mac star Christine McVie, who died last November after suffering a stroke.
The BHF said the reason for the sharp rise was likely to be the result of better recognition and diagnosis of the condition.
But it says further research is still needed to find new ways to identify people at risk earlier.
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director at the BHF, said: “These figures show a quite astonishing increase in the number of people being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
“Research has helped us understand the links between atrial fibrillation and stroke, and this has fueled the efforts we’ve seen in recent years to identify people with this potentially dangerous heart rhythm.”
“What remains worrying is the large number of people who are undiagnosed and unaware that they are living with an increased risk of stroke. Finding people with this hidden threat must remain a priority.”
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani said the rise was ‘amazing’
Debbie Coxon was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation following a stroke in November 2018.
The 59-year-old Blyth woman was at home on a FaceTime video call with her 28-year-old daughter Faye when her face began to droop and she had trouble speaking.
Faye raised the alarm as she immediately realized what was happening and the mother-of-two was rushed to hospital.
She was treated with thrombolytic — or clot-busting — drugs and eventually returned to her job as a medical secretary after five months at home.
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Mrs Coxon said: “I had no idea I had atrial fibrillation until my stroke. I thought it was very scary to know that it caused my stroke and it made me worry that it could cause another one.
“It took me a good 12 months before I could say to myself that I’m fine, I’m taking all the medication I need for my heart and it’s time to get on with my life.”
Dr. Peter Charlton, of Cambridge Universitysaid wearable technology, such as smartwatches, could be one way to make it easier to identify people with atrial fibrillation.
Dr Charlton, who aims to develop the technology as part of a BHF-funded project, said: “If these devices can be used to reliably detect AF, particularly when it is intermittent, then they could be a powerful tool for finding people living at increased risk of stroke.”
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