A sobering article!!

I knew about the increased risk of stroke, but wasn't aware of the really high percentages of other things

Please do not read if your of a nervous disposition...I wish I hadn't..

google.co.uk/amp/www.dailym...

[Hidden]

I wish i hadn't now but you did warn me !

[rosyG]

Hi Juggsy

Problem is some people's AF results from the conditions mentioned in the article so it's hard to say what causes what. I shouldn't worry about it and just keep as fit as possible to promote general cardiovascular health!!

[Jonathan_C in reply to rosyG]

Looks to me like the article has a serious case of confusing correlation and causation.

[dedeottie]

I dont think it is saying anything new really. It is just that A.F. is being given a much higher profile now which is good. The media is just catching up with what we A.F.ers already know. We already know that we have to keep our hearts in good shape and maybe in better shape than the rest of the population.x

[Pikaia]

Sobering indeed. The paper didn't provide a link to the original research article, but I believe it to be: doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i4482

A number of responses were also published. These can be accessed by clicking on the requisite tab at the top of the article.

It seems a good, well-researched article, but of course with all these studies where they search the literature and pool the data across heterogenous samples there are margins of error and confidence intervals, so I'm not taking the percentage risks too seriously, other than accepting they indicate some increase.

The stats are all pooled into percentages in the conclusion section of the paper, if you want to take a look (I won't post them here in case people don't want to know).

I guess the bottom line is that having AF can be an indicator of other issues, not only with the heart but elsewhere in the body.

Life is a rollercoaster, eh!

[Finvola]

The article looks only at the overall figures but does not include the risk factors from other sources such as existing heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Good to see AF being mentioned in the press at all.

[souljacs4]

It would be good if they would do a study of people without comorbidities who have AF also with different lifestyles (smoking drinking weight) instead of just putting everyone with AF in the same boat. We know age is a factor in AF but there nothing we can do about that. But maybe if we were given a more positive outlook about the things we can do something about a lot more people would want to try.

[Hidden]

.....but is this report based upon people with treated or untreated AF?

[Buffafly]

Typical Daily Mail, start with a dramatic statement to get your attention and then backtrack s to more balanced conclusion. This is very much a chicken and egg situation as I think we all know by now if we having been paying attention (going into full grumpy grandma mode now). Do not worry unless you are going to use it to spur you on to a healthier lifestyle!!! Check out how the South Koreans live ......

[BobD Volunteer]

Or it might just be that you have AF because you already have lots of other problems. Move on. Enjoy everyday. You are a long time dead.

[RobertELee in reply to BobD]

Just three days I heard!

[cassie46]

I agree with Koll it was very unclear who they were talking about. I took it as undiagnosed AF sufferers. Surely those with conrolled AF either with medication or ablations ect would have lower risks or so we are told.

Cassie

[Jans5]

Typical newspaper article as Buffafly says but all publicity is good publicity and anything that raises the profile of AF is good for us.

[starry-eyes]

*Shrugs and carries on living*

[Jason1971]

I'm glad for the exposure, it's good to see AF in the nationals. Lots of

People on this site will be aware of the dangers, but getting it out to the wider pop does only good for charities like AFA. However, AF can be brought on by some of the aforementioned conditions, so a person with lone AF for example may be at lower risk. Still a very sobering article indeed.

[RichMert]

Not going to read it

[Fastbeat]

I have read it,now I'll move on

[theendisnigh]

Ah this is the old 100% more likely article.

It's much more headline grabbing than

"If you suffer from AF and clip your nails, you're chances of having an in growing toe nail is 0.002% whereas if you didn't cut your nails the chances are 0.001%"

A 100% increase in the chance of nasty things happening could still mean the chances are insignificant.

However if the base percentage is 5% then the 100% increase becomes a bit more significant.

[Emsysy]

There are various ways in which one will depart this life. We've got to go one way or another. I'll elect for a heart attack before any other way.

[Susiebelle]

I too am alarmed !