Introduction
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is
associated with significant morbidity and mortality[1,2]. The prevalence of AF increases with
advancing age and is estimated to affect up to 0.5% of individuals
under the age of 45 years [3,4].
Previous studies suggest that paroxysmal AF is the most common type of
AF in young adults, accounting for up to half of all AF diagnoses in
this population [5,6]. Several predisposing risk
factors for AF in young adults have been identified, including
hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, smoking, vigorous
or high-intensity exercise, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), family
history of AF, alcohol use, and hyperthyroidism[6-7].
Despite the high prevalence of AF and its resultant significant
morbidity and mortality, there is scarcity of studies that investigated
AF in Middle Eastern populations [8-12].
Additionally, special populations such as young individuals with AF have
not been thoroughly investigated previously, and studies comparing these
individuals to their older counterparts are relatively nonexistent.
Comprehensive and well-structured studies of AF in Middle Eastern
populations are needed due to their distinctive demographics and higher
prevalence of certain AF risk factors such as smoking, HTN, DM, and
obesity even among younger age groups [13-15].
Such studies can also help developing evidence-based guidelines,
optimizing the care and treatment of AF in this population.
Additionally, such studies can guide healthcare providers to better
diagnostic and therapeutic schemes, improve patient outcomes, and reduce
the impact of AF on patients’ health and well-being.
Our present analysis pertains to young patients with AF included in the
Jordan Atrial Fibrillation (JoFib) registry patients followed up for one
year. We aimed to compare their clinical characteristics and one-year
outcomes to those of older AF patients.