HYDERABAD: Atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common heart rhythm disorder, is becoming a growing health threat in India. This is due to lifestyle-related conditions like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Experts warn many people are unaware they have AFib because symptoms can be mild or absent.
Prof. Dhiraj Gupta, a UK expert on AFib and cardiac electrophysiology, says complications from AFib are getting more attention as people live longer. Unlike sudden heart attacks, AFib develops slowly, sometimes over years. “People might mistake fatigue or breathlessness for aging or being out of shape, not realizing it could be a heart rhythm problem, ” he said.
AFib happens when the heart's upper chambers, the atria, don't contract properly, reducing the heart's efficiency. Symptoms include breathlessness, dizziness, fatigue, and palpitations. Dr. C. Narasimhan, head of electrophysiology at AIG Hospitals, highlighted India's unique risks. Many have sarcopenic obesity, with low muscle mass and belly fat, which, along with high blood pressure and diabetes, increases cardiovascular risks.
Rheumatic heart disease is a major cause of AFib in India. While high blood pressure is the main risk factor worldwide, rheumatic valve disease causes about 40% of AFib cases in some Indian groups, unlike lower rates in the West.
Experts say AFib can increase stroke risk by up to five times. It can also lead to heart failure and possibly dementia over time. Alarmingly, some patients only discover they have AFib after a stroke.
AFib can be detected with a simple 12-lead ECG, but early suspicion is key. Since AFib can come and go, prolonged monitoring or smartwatches with AFib detection can help catch cases that standard check-ups might miss.
Recent treatment advances have improved patient outcomes. Catheter ablation, especially with new pulsed-field ablation, is quicker and safer. Modern blood thinners have made stroke prevention easier than older medications like warfarin.
However, experts say managing AFib isn't just about heart rhythm. Addressing blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and other lifestyle risks is crucial. Prof. Gupta advises patients to seek care at centers with experienced teams, as this can improve the safety and success of treatments.
Doctors urge more awareness among primary-care physicians. They stress that patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease history who report symptoms like palpitations, fatigue, or breathlessness need thorough screening, not dismissal as anxiety or aging.
