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An estimated half a million Australians are living with atrial fibrillation, the most common irregular heartbeat.3
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Alarmingly, as many as 30% of those living with atrial fibrillation remain undiagnosed.4
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1-in-3 Australians are at risk of developing atrial fibrillation in their lifetime,2 increasing their risk of stroke, heart failure and dementia.5
Monday, 18 September 2023, Sydney, Australia
A comprehensive nationwide survey sponsored by leading health promotion charity hearts4heart has revealed alarming gaps in atrial fibrillation awareness among Australian adults, prompting urgent calls from clinicians, politicians, patients, and carers, for heightened education and awareness campaigns to tackle this critical issue head-on.
Findings from the survey revealed that 1-in-3 Australians (approx. 6.7 million) were completely unaware of atrial fibrillation,1 a condition that affects an estimated half a million Australians.3 Alarmingly, as many as 30 percent of those living with the condition remain undiagnosed.4
"Knowledge gaps like these are concerning and highlight the urgent need for increased awareness and education about atrial fibrillation and its symptoms," said Tanya Hall, CEO, and Founder of hearts4heart, who also lives with the condition.
"Early detection and awareness play a pivotal role in managing atrial fibrillation effectively and improving the quality of life for those affected," Ms Hall said.
Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition where the upper chambers of the heart beat rapidly and irregularly. This can affect the heart's ability to efficiently pump blood throughout the body.7
Affecting more than 1 in 4 Australians aged 55 and over,8 atrial fibrillation is responsible for 1-in-4 strokes6 and can lead to other life-threatening health complications when left untreated, including heart failure and dementia,5 which is why awareness is so important.
“The urgent need to bridge the knowledge gap and promote early detection is more critical than ever for the health and wellbeing of the Australian population,” said Maria Vamvakinou MP, Co-chair of Parliamentary Friends of Heart, and Stroke Foundations.
Associated with a three-fold increase in the risk of heart failure and a seven-fold higher risk in life-threatening stroke,9, 10 atrial fibrillation is the leading cause of cardiovascular hospitalisations,9 resulting in a direct annual healthcare cost of approximately $1.63 billion.11
“With early diagnosis, treatment and lifestyle changes, a person with atrial fibrillation can reduce their risk of hospitalisation and stroke and improve their quality of life, which is why awareness is so important,” said Dr Adrian Elliott, a leader in the field of cardiac arrhythmias and lecturer at the Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders.
“If you’re over 65, or experiencing any symptoms, speak with your GP and get your heart checked,” Dr Elliott said.
Having recently recovered from a stroke caused by atrial fibrillation, Mr. Les Botha agrees, and is keen to see more Australians speaking with their GPs about their heart health.
“Get it checked. If I had known about atrial fibrillation earlier, this stroke may have been prevented,” Mr Botha said.
Mr Peter Grady and Jim Micholos have also experienced life-threatening health complications after not recognising (or knowing) the signs of atrial fibrillation.
“Regardless of how many symptoms you experience and how mild it can be, go immediately to your GP and get a proper diagnosis,” said Mr Grady, who had an atrial fibrillation related heart attack.
Mr Micholos agreed. “Even if you have an inkling that something is wrong with your heart, go speak to your doctor. There is nothing worse than not asking questions and the best place to start is your GP.”
This Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Week, Hearts4Heart is urging Australians to learn to recognise atrial fibrillation symptoms and speak with their GP about getting their heart checked for an irregular heartbeat.
“If you’ve experienced a rapid heartbeat or palpitations, dizziness, unexplained tiredness, shortness of breath, fainting, swelling of the ankles or chest pain, speak with your GP. It may save your life,” said Ms Hall.
To access resources and information about atrial fibrillation, please visit www.hearts4heart.org.au.
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Interviews available with:
Hearts4heart spokesperson:
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Tanya Hall (Perth) - Hearts4heart CEO and Founder
Experts in the field:
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Dr Adrian Elliott (Adelaide) - leader in the field of cardiac arrhythmias and lecturer at the Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders.
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Professor Prash Sanders (Adelaide) - Cardiac Electrophysiologist and Director of the Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders
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Professor Peter Kistler (Melbourne) - Head of Electrophysiology at The Alfred Hospital and Clinical Electrophysiology Research
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Dr Karen Phillips (Brisbane) - Director of Cardiology at The Brisbane AF Clinic
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Professor Jason Kovacic (Sydney) - Director and CEO of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
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Dr Justin Ng (Perth) - General Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist
Case studies:
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Les Botha (Melbourne) - recently recovered from an AF related stroke
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Peter Grady (Melbourne) - experienced an AF related heart attack
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Jim Micholos (Adelaide) - experienced an AF related stroke
Politicians:
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Maria Vamakinou MP (VIC) - Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Heart and Stroke Foundation
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Wendy Askew MP (TAS) - Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Heart and Stroke Foundation
About the YouGov Research
The YouGov study Awareness of symptoms caused by Atrial Fibrillation surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,014 Australians aged 18 years and older in between 7th to 9th August 2023. The survey was conducted using an online survey administered to members of the YouGov Plc Australian panel of 71,000+ individuals who have agreed to take part in surveys. After the survey's completion, the data was weighted by age, gender, and region to reflect the latest ABS population estimates.
References
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Hearts4heart. (2023). Awareness of symptoms caused by Atrial Fibrillation. [data on file].
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Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. (2021) Victor Chang scientists receive funding for AF Research. Retrieved from Million-dollar grant to accelerate Atrial Fibrillation research - Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.
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Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2020). Atrial fibrillation in Australia. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/heart-stroke-vascular-diseases/atrial-fibrillation-in-australia/contents/what-is-atrial-fibrillation
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Deloitte Access Economics. (2011). Offbeat: Atrial fibrillation and the cost of preventable strokes. Retrieved from: https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/economics/articles/atrial-fibrillation-cost-preventable-strokes.html
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Heart Research Institute. (2022). Link between Dementia and Atrial Fibrillation. Retrieved from https://www.hri.org.au/news/link-between-dementia-and-atrial-fibrillation-irregular-heartbeat
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Stroke Foundation. (2023) Atrial Fibrillation. Retrieved from https://strokefoundation.org.au/about-stroke/prevent-stroke/atrial-fibrillation#:~:text=Atrial%20fibrillation%20is%20associated%20with,no%20family%20history%20of%20it
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Hearts4heart (2022. Atrial Fibrillation (AF). Retrieved from: https://hearts4heart.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AF-Information-Sheet-AUS.pdf
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Elliott, A. D., Middeldorp, M. E., Van Gelder, I. C., Albert, C. M., & Sanders, P. (2023). Epidemiology and modifiable risk factors for atrial fibrillation. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 20(6), 404-417.
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Gallagher, C., Hendriks, J. M., Giles, L., Karnon, J., Pham, C., Elliott, A. D., … Wong, C. X. (2019). Increasing trends in hospitalisations due to atrial fibrillation in Australia from 1993 to 2013. Heart (British Cardiac Society), 105(17), 1358–1363. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2018-314471
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Ball, J., Thompson, D. R., Ski, C. F., Carrington, M. J., Gerber, T., & Stewart, S. (2015). Estimating the current and future prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the Australian adult population. Medical Journal of Australia, 202(1), 32–35.
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Chen, M. Y., Xiao, F. P., Kuai, L., Zhou, H. B., Jia, Z. Q., Liu, M., He, H., & Hong, M. (2021). Outcomes of atrial fibrillation in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The American journal of emergency medicine, 50, 661–669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2021.09.050
About us:
Hearts4heart is a non-profit organisation that supports, educates, and advocates for people with heart disease in Australia and New Zealand. Hearts4heart works to eliminate stroke and preventable deaths and improve the quality of life for patients and caregivers.
Bringing together patients and healthcare professionals to reduce the burden of heart disease, hearts4heart provides targeted educational programs, resources, and services to improve diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life. To find out more visit www.hearts4heart.org.au
Contact details:
Kerry Jung – [email protected] 0435 753 618
Sajini Subhaskaran – [email protected] 0413 279 264