10 Pct Of Aging Population May Suffer AF

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- Some 10 per cent of the country's population above 48 years old risk suffering from Atrial Fibrillation (AF) - a condition where the heart rhythm is abnormal, according to a surgeon.
National Heart Institute (NHI) consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Jeswant Dillon said the risk of experiencing AF was higher when a person grew older and if left untreated, it could cause death.
"AF could occur to anyone, even healthy individuals with no medical condition or history.
"It is more prevalent among the males," he told reporters at NHI's second Symposium on Advanced Techniques in Thoracoscopic Ablation and Mitral Valve Repair, here Monday.
He said the rapid and disorganised rhythm of AF would affect the heart's ability to perform its normal function, thus patients could risk suffering from stroke, heart failure and mortality.
Dr Dillon, who is also the Symposium Director, said although no specific cause was known, among the factors that could trigger AF were stress, high intake of caffeine and alcohol, and stimulant medications.
"Among the symptoms of AF are shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue and blackout," he said.
The two-day symposium is being held following the success of the earlier symposium held last March, which was a landmark achievement for NHI for being the first medical centre in Asia and Australasia to perform a 'key-hole" (endoscopic) - an innovative surgical technique to treat AF.
At the first symposium, six AF patients became the pioneer batch for treatment using such a method.
Among them was Chow Yow Choy, 48, from Ipoh. He had suffered from AF for six years before being encouraged by his doctor to try out the new method.
"When the AF occurred, I felt tired and had to abandon the work I was doing to get some rest. Normally it lasted for a few hours," he said.
"Prior to the surgery, I had to travel regularly between Ipoh and the NHI for treatment. Since the surgery, I had not experienced AF and I feel very normal," he said.
Another patient, Norazilah Jonit, 49, from Kajang, said she frequently suffered irregular heart beats before she went for the surgery.
"Sometimes, I would suffer from a heart pause, and at times I could hear my heart beat very fast at night. It was scary and stressed me out," the retired Bukit Aman police officer said.
"And now, I can return to my active self, although I only stick to some mild exercise routine like jogging and aerobic. I also go for follow-up check-up once every two months," she said.
Some 150 participants comprising cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists from government and private hospitals in China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Croatia, Canada, the United States of America, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia attended the symposium.