Covid 19 and AF

[Stinky1953]

"Silvio Brusaferro, the president of Italy’s Higher Institute of Health, said on Friday that the average age of coronavirus victims was 80.3, with the majority having suffered underlying illnesses. The most common additional health issue was arterial hypertension followed by chronic heart disease, atrial fibrillation and cancer."

This from The Guardian this morning. This is the first time I've seen AF on the high risk list. I've heard nothing from NHS re AF nor seen any guidance for AF sufferers.

[Padayn01]

Interesting to see what others say here first time also I hear AF is high risk

[Jalia]

Whoops! I am thinking that this may have been mentioned because it may have been one of the comorbities revealed when a person died....very common in the elderly ...but was not the main health issue.

Hope so anyhow as by itself AF is not supposed to be a factor. It is the company it keeps

[Finvola]

With an average of 80, there is a high incidence of AF in the general population anyway: add hypertension and heart disease and AF is even more likely to be present.

This doesn’t mean that AF was a factor in making people more vulnerable to the virus, the severe risk factors were already there - just my thoughts.

[paolina in reply to Finvola]

That sounds right, I live in Italy and haven't seen AF mentioned apart from what was quoted in The Guardian.