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Understand AFib
prevalence and stroke risk

Patient and ekg line icon to review information about the different presentations of AFib.

Review information about the
different presentations of AFib

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Share the signs, symptoms,
and risk factors with patients

Impact of AFib

AFib is growing in prevalence and is a powerful risk factor for stroke1,2

Based on a retrospective study with a natural history progression model1:

Infographic showing the growing prevalence of AFib in the US
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Prevalence and Impact of AFib

Ami Bhatt, MD, FACC, discusses the prevalence of AFib and the associated risk of stroke

Prevalence and impact of AFib in patients in the US video thumbnail

AFib is associated with
increased stroke severity4

Brain icon for the Framingham Study section In the
Framingham Study4:

Brain icon for the Framingham Study section
In the Framingham Study4:
  • Strokes in patients with AFib were associated with increased severity and mortality compared to non-AFib–related strokes*
  • The 30-day post-stroke mortality rate, based on an age-adjusted model, demonstrated a 1.84-fold increased risk of death at 30 days post-stroke compared to non-AFib–related strokes

*Among 501 initial ischemic strokes, 103 (20%) had documented AFib.

Study objective: Evaluate the influence of AFib on stroke severity, mortality, and functional disability by means of systematic and serial assessments in stroke subjects using the long-term prospective follow-up of the original Framingham Study cohort over a 40-year period. The Framingham cohort consisted of 5070 men and women ages 30-62 years and free of cardiovascular disease including stroke at study entry in 1948-1950 who were followed prospectively with biennial examinations.

Study limitations: Social and psychological factors were not evaluated and not all stroke survivors attended each set-time follow-up examination, which may have introduced bias into the analyses.

AFib may be first discovered
upon admission to the hospital
for a stroke

Heart and ekg line iconIn an additional analysis of
the Framingham Study5:

Heart and ekg line icon
In an additional analysis of the Framingham Study5:
  • During 38 years of follow-up, 656 initial strokes occurred and 115 of these strokes occurred in association with AFib
    • 21/115 people had AFib discovered for the first time upon admission for the stroke
    • 89/115 had prior documentation of AFib and 5/115 were in sinus rhythm on admission but developed AFib during acute hospitalization for stroke

Study objective: Evaluate and study the relationship between acute stroke and admission-detected AFib in patients suffering stroke without previous diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.5

Study limitations: The number of study cases was small, accuracy of classification of AFib was affected by length and intensity of follow-up, poorer survival rate for AFib subjects during the follow-up period, and without continuous electrocardiogram monitoring, misclassification of the type of AFib could have happened. A portion of the study subjects (6/26) with newly discovered AFib died shortly after stroke onset (within 3 to 25 days), which inherently weakened the ascertainment of the course of AFib.5

Adult male wearing glasses

AFib is the most common cardiac rhythm disturbance, and AFib-related strokes are more severe and fatal than strokes not due to AFib.3,4

Presentations of AFib

AFib can present in various ways

While understanding the impact of AFib and related stroke risk is crucial, it is equally important to examine the different presentations and classifications of AFib.

Patients experiencing AFib can be either symptomatic or asymptomatic, which can make diagnosis challenging. Patients with asymptomatic (or silent) AFib do not present with symptoms but do remain at-risk for stroke.6

AFib is characterized by duration of episodes, which often increase in frequency and duration over time. To understand AFib, it’s important to understand the classifications. Classifications of AFib are defined as follows6:

  • Paroxysmal: AFib that terminates spontaneously or within 7 days of onset; episodes may occur with variable frequency
  • Persistent: Continuous AFib sustained for more than 7 days
  • Long-standing: Continuous for more than 12 months
  • Permanent: Terminology used when both patient and clinician make a decision to discontinue intervention to maintain or restore sinus rhythm

Examining the presentations of AFib reported in a large-scale national study

Using data from ORBIT-AF, a national observational community-based outpatient registry of 10,087 patients with AFib in the US conducted between June 2010 and August 2011, symptom severity was evaluated at baseline using the physician-assessed EHRA classification system.7

  • The EHRA classification system is used to assess and quantify symptoms related to AFib. The EHRA classification is based on the impact of symptoms on daily activity during presumed episodes of AFib
  • EHRA proposed scoring system for AFib-related symptoms: 1=asymptomatic, 2=mild, 3=severe, 4=disabling

Within the study, participants fell into 2 categories, asymptomatic and symptomatic based on the EHRA classification.7

0%
of patients were
asymptomatic

Infographic showing presentations of AFib reported in a large scale national study

0%
of patients were
symptomatic

  • Individual patient-reported symptoms were also assessed, including palpitations, syncope or fainting, dyspnea on exertion, exercise intolerance, lightheadedness or dizziness, dyspnea at rest, fatigue, and chest tightness or discomfort7
  • Among patients identified by physicians as asymptomatic using the EHRA score, the vast majority reported no individual symptoms, but 11% reported at least one symptom, with palpitations being the most common (6%)7

EHRA=European Heart Rhythm Association; ORBIT-AF=Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation.

Classifications of AFib observed in the ORBIT-AF Study

In the ORBIT-AF study, below are the classifications of AFib, as reported in baseline characteristics of the 10,087 patients, inclusive of both symptomatic and asymptomatic groups.7

Pie chart depicting the classifications of AFib observed in the ORBIT-AF Study

Paroxysmal (N=5096)

Persistent (N=1695)

Long-Standing Persistent (N=2819)

New onset (N=477)

Study objective: To assess the symptom severity and quality of life of patients suffering from AFib using the EHRA classification system and AFEQT questionnaire.7

Study limitations: Although the large, community-based cohort included in this study was broadly representative of patients with AFib in the United States, the study evaluated patients who were undergoing treatment for AFib and the results may not be generalizable to a disadvantaged or untreated population.7 The study controlled for a large number of covariates, however a potential limitation of this study may be the presence of residual or unmeasured confounding in the analyses, evaluating the association between AFib symptoms and outcomes.7

AFEQT=AFib Effect on QualiTy of life.

Actor portrayal of an AFib patient discussing AFib detection and diagnosis with his doctor

In patients who experience intermittent episodes, or who do not experience any symptoms, detecting and diagnosing AFib can be especially challenging.8

Educating Patients

It is critical to discuss the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of AFib with patients who are at risk3,9

Your patients may be unaware of the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of AFib.3,9,10

According to a 2019 national survey of 1010 US adults ages 40 and older conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the BMS/Pfizer Alliance10:

61%

said that they aren’t familiar with AFib

82%

of non-diagnosed adults wished they knew more about the symptoms of AFib and what to do if they experience them

58%

of adults 65+ did not know that their age can potentially put them at risk for AFib

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AFib Signs, Symptoms, and Risk Factors

Ami Bhatt, MD, FACC, shares insights into patient understanding of signs, symptoms, and risk factors for AFib

Thumbnail for a video covering the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of AFib

Help your patients understand AFib signs, symptoms, and risk factors

Some patients are asymptomatic, so it’s important to be mindful of AFib risk factors.6

Risk factors for AFib may include3:

  • Advancing age
  • Hypertension
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Heart failure
  • Ischemic heart disease
  • European ancestry
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Moderate to heavy alcohol use
  • Smoking
  • Enlargement of left chambers of the heart

Signs and symptoms of AFib may include3,9:

  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Heart palpitations
  • Chest pain
  • Lightheadedness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
Actor portrayal of a doctor reviewing AFib education materials

Stay AFib vigilant. Engage your at-risk patients in their care by discussing the signs, symptoms, and risk factors for AFib

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Assessing for AFib

Review options to help detect AFib, from pulse checks to FDA-cleared devices

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Expert Discussion

View a library
of helpful
videos

References:

  1. Colilla S, Crow A, Petkun W, Singer DE, Simon T, Liu X. Estimates of current and future incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the adult population. Am J Cardiol. 2013;112:1142-1147. doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2013.05.063
  2. Wolf PA, Abbott RD, Kannel WB. Atrial fibrillation as an independent risk factor for stroke: the Framingham Study. Stroke. 1991;22(8):983-988. doi:10.1161/01.str.22.8.983
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Atrial Fibrillation. Accessed May 12, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/atrial_fibrillation.htm
  4. Lin HJ, Wolf PA, Kelly-Hayes M, et al. Stroke severity in atrial fibrillation. The Framingham Study. Stroke. 1996;27(10):1760-1764. doi: 10.1161/01.str.27.10.1760.
  5. Lin HJ, Wolf PA, Benjamin EJ, Belanger AJ, D’Agostino RB. Newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation and acute stroke. The Framingham Study. Stroke. 1995;26(9):1527-1530. doi:10.1161/01.str.26.9.1527
  6. January CT, Wann LS, Alpert JS, et al. 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;64(21):e1-e76. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2014.03.022
  7. Freeman JV, Simon DN, Go AS, et al. on behalf of the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF) Investigators and Patients. Association between atrial fibrillation symptoms, quality of life, and patient outcomes: results from the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF). Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2015;8(4):393-402. doi:10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.114.001303
  8. Ding EY, Marcus GM, McManus DD. Emerging technologies for identifying atrial fibrillation. Circ Res. 2020;127:128-142. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.119.316342
  9. Atrial Fibrillation. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). National Institutes of Health. Accessed October 10, 2023. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/atrial-fibrillation/causes#
  10. Pfizer/BMS MoM Survey conducted by The Harris Poll, May 2019.

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