Atrial fibrillation also is an important cause of ischemic stroke. 7Ītrial fibrillation tends to progress over time, causing worsening symptoms and exacerbating heart failure. This may be due to the increasing prevalence of some risk factors for atrial fibrillation (e.g., older age, obesity, and diabetes), although the prevalence of other risk factors is declining. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation has been increasing over the past few decades and is expected to continue to increase in coming years. 6 Other risk factors include hypertension, previous cardiothoracic surgery, smoking, prior stroke, sleep apnea, alcohol and drug use, and hyperthyroidism. 3 These risk factors are becoming increasingly relevant in the United States, where the population is aging, 4 the obesity epidemic is growing, 5 and the prevalence of diabetes is rising. However not all people with atrial fibrillation have symptoms, and some may be unaware that they have an arrhythmia.Ītrial fibrillation is strongly associated with increasing age (affecting 0.2 percent of people under 55 years of age but 10 percent of those over 85 years old), 2 obesity, and diabetes. Symptoms include palpitations (fluttering sensation in the chest), dizziness, shortness of breath, syncope (fainting), and fatigue. 1 Atrial fibrillation occurs when underlying heart disease (such as ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, or heart failure) damages the tissue of the atria and disrupts its ability to contract regularly. McDermott, Ph.D., and Anne Elixhauser, Ph.D.Ītrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm or 'arrhythmia' in which the upper chambers of the heart contract irregularly and inefficiently, affects 2.7-6.1 million Americans and is the most common type of heart arrhythmia. Elisabeth Kato, M.D., M.R.P., Quyen Ngo-Metzger, M.D., M.P.H., Kathryn R.

Cpt code atrial flutter ablation