The 9th Edition of COVAI HEART RHYTHM SUMMIT (CHRS 2024) EP UPDATE 2024, ORGANIZED BY KMCH

Irregular Heart Beat the Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major public health problem worldwide.

Also, overall prevalence of AF increases with age, reaching a prevalence rate as high as 10% in octogenarians. It often leads to permanent disability including cognitive dysfunction causing huge financial and emotional burden to the families of the affected. About one-third of the patients with AF are asymptomatic. AF may go undetected in these patients until symptoms develop, and stroke could be the first manifestation of AF. In the case of AF, stroke is preventable with medicines so making early diagnosis and treatment of paramount importance.AF is a severely disabling disease with deadly implications if left untreated. Untreated AF increases risk of stroke and heart failure. The heart contracts chaotically during AF. The electrical signals in the upper chambers of the heart become chaotic, disordered, and fast, and they override the normal signals. Because the atria are not effectively pumping blood, blood pools and becomes trapped in the grooves of the heart. Blood clots may develop and lodge into the vessels in the brain. Therefore, AF patients are three to five times more likely to suffer stroke. Heart failure can also result from AF. Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot circulate enough blood to fulfil body's demands. The irregular, rapid heartbeat of AF causes inefficient blood pumping, which, if not managed, can damage the heart.