(RxWiki News) Atrial fibrillation (AFib) may pose more health risks than just stroke, a new study found.
This new study tied AFib to an increased risk of heart failure, sudden cardiac death and chronic kidney disease, in addition to stroke.
The link between AFib, a common type of arrhythmia, and stroke is well-studied, the authors of this study noted. But not as much was known about the link between AFib and other conditions.
To study other potential health risks tied to AFib, these researchers looked at 104 past studies involving more than 9 million patients in which more than 580,000 of these patients had a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.
These researchers noted that the risk for some of the other conditions tied to AFib was greater than the risk for stroke in patients with AFib.
The study authors called for further research and resources devoted to reduce the risk of non-stroke outcomes in those with AFib.
If you have AFib, talk to your doctor about treatment options and how to stay healthy.
This study was published in The BMJ.
Study authors disclosed no outside funding sources and no conflicts of interest.
