Abnormal Heart Rhythm Raises Death Risk

Having one type of abnormal heart rhythm more than doubles the risk of death in otherwise healthy women, new research finds. The research was based on records for more than 34,000 middle-aged women. They were part of a study that kept track of them for 15 years. In that time, more than 1,000 developed atrial fibrillation. This is a rapid, fluttering rhythm in the heart’s upper chambers. Blood doesn’t pump out normally. It pools inside the heart. This can form clots, which can cause a stroke. During the study, 63 of these women died. About 3 out of 4 had high blood pressure. Researchers adjusted their numbers to account for this problem and other things that could increase the risk of death. Even so, women with atrial fibrillation were twice as likely to die as other women. They were 4 times as likely to die of heart disease or stroke. The overall death rate was small, about 2%.