Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
How Common Is It?
Causes and Risk Factors
Complications and Mortality Rates
Diagnosis
Arrhythmiasare abnormalities in the heart’s rhythm that can lead to complications like palpitations, fainting, stroke, and death. The most common sustained arrhythmia isatrial fibrillation, which affects up to 2% to 9% of people in the United States.This number is expected to increase in the coming years.
Read on to learn more about the different types of arrhythmias and important facts and statistics about atrial fibrillation.
FG Trade / Getty Images
Arrhythmias: Overview
Cardiac arrhythmiasare abnormalities in the heartbeat. The heart normally pumps 60-100 times per minute to circulate blood throughout the body. An electrical system inside the heart stimulates the heart muscle to pump with each heartbeat. Abnormalities in the heart’s rhythm can result in extra or missed heartbeats or the heart pumping too fast (tachycardia) or too slow (bradycardia).
The following is a list of the different types of arrhythmias:
Classifying ArrhythmiasArrhythmias are classified according to where they came from:Atrial arrhythmias or supraventricular tachycardiasstart in the upper chambers of the heart. Atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia, AVNRT, AVRT, and premature atrial complexes are in this category.Ventricular arrhythmiasstart in the lower chambers of the heart. PVCs, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and Torsade de Pointes are in this category.
Classifying Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias are classified according to where they came from:Atrial arrhythmias or supraventricular tachycardiasstart in the upper chambers of the heart. Atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia, AVNRT, AVRT, and premature atrial complexes are in this category.Ventricular arrhythmiasstart in the lower chambers of the heart. PVCs, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and Torsade de Pointes are in this category.
Arrhythmias are classified according to where they came from:
How Common Are Arrhythmias?
Arrhythmias are common, but some types are more common than others. The most common are premature atrial complexes (PACs) andatrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation affects about 1 in 50 Americans under the age of 65 and about 1 in 10 Americans over age 65.
The incidence ofventricular arrhythmiasvaries widely. In one study, ventricular arrhythmias occurred in 48 per 100,000 adults (approximately 1 in 2,100 people).
In older adults, ventricular arrhythmias occur in 2-3 out of 100 people who do not have any known risk factors, and in 15-16 in 100 people who havecoronary artery disease(CAD).
Increasing PrevalenceThe prevalence of arrhythmias has increased and is expected to grow because of the aging population in the U.S., and the increase in risk factors for arrhythmias.With newer heart monitoring technology, like wearable smartwatches capable of detecting arrhythmias, we may learn that arrhythmias are even more common than previously thought.
Increasing Prevalence
The prevalence of arrhythmias has increased and is expected to grow because of the aging population in the U.S., and the increase in risk factors for arrhythmias.With newer heart monitoring technology, like wearable smartwatches capable of detecting arrhythmias, we may learn that arrhythmias are even more common than previously thought.
The prevalence of arrhythmias has increased and is expected to grow because of the aging population in the U.S., and the increase in risk factors for arrhythmias.
With newer heart monitoring technology, like wearable smartwatches capable of detecting arrhythmias, we may learn that arrhythmias are even more common than previously thought.
Atrial fibrillation is diagnosed more commonly in the Caucasian population, but researchers question whether atrial fibrillation is truly more common in Caucasian adults.
A study found that over a 14-year follow-up period, atrial fibrillation was less commonly diagnosed in Black adults. It showed a 6.6% lower prevalence in Black patients compared to White patients after adjustment for risk factors.
However, when looking at 14-day monitors, the prevalence was not different.This suggests that atrial fibrillation could be underdiagnosed—and not necessarily less common—in Black patients.
Causes and Risk Factors for Arrhythmias
Various problems in the heart’s muscle, structure, and electrical system can cause arrhythmias, including:
There are also risk factors that we may have control over (called modifiable risk factors) including:
Complications and Mortality Rates of Arrhythmias
Arrhythmia is a broad term that includes a range of abnormal heart rhythms, fromharmless extra beatsto life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
Talking about mortality rates of arrhythmias, in general, is not as helpful as looking at complications and mortality rates for individual arrhythmias. The most serious arrhythmias are discussed below.
Ventricular Arrhythmias & Sudden Cardiac Death
Ventricular arrhythmias are potentially life-threatening arrhythmias that can lead tosudden cardiac death.Premature ventricular complexes(PVCs) are abnormal beats that can be precursors to more serious ventricular arrhythmias like ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and Torsade de Pointes.
Studies have shown that a person with frequent PVCs but otherwise normal heart structure is more likely to develop heart failure and experience higher cardiovascular mortality.
Sudden Cardiac DeathVentricular arrhythmias are a major cause of sudden cardiac death. If sudden cardiac death occurs outside of the hospital, the survival rate is about 10%.Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can mean the difference between life and death for someone experiencing sudden cardiac death.
Sudden Cardiac Death
Ventricular arrhythmias are a major cause of sudden cardiac death. If sudden cardiac death occurs outside of the hospital, the survival rate is about 10%.Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can mean the difference between life and death for someone experiencing sudden cardiac death.
Ventricular arrhythmias are a major cause of sudden cardiac death. If sudden cardiac death occurs outside of the hospital, the survival rate is about 10%.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can mean the difference between life and death for someone experiencing sudden cardiac death.
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia. It’s serious because it increases the risk of mortality and stroke. Mortality rates for atrial fibrillation vary from 1.6% to 4.2% per year.
Stroke Incidence with Atrial FibrillationAccording to the American Heart Association, atrial fibrillation causes about 1 in 7 strokes, and having atrial fibrillation makes you five times more likely to have a stroke.
Stroke Incidence with Atrial Fibrillation
According to the American Heart Association, atrial fibrillation causes about 1 in 7 strokes, and having atrial fibrillation makes you five times more likely to have a stroke.
Diagnosis and Early Detection
If you havesymptoms of arrhythmia, you should seek medical attention. Your healthcare provider will do an electrocardiogram (ECG). An ECG candiagnose arrhythmiasif they are happening at the time the test is done. It can also show hints of a heart problem, like thickened heart walls or scarring from an old heart attack.
Symptoms of ArrhythmiaSymptoms of arrhythmias can include:Palpitations (e.g., racing heart, skipped or irregular heartbeats)LightheadednessExercise intoleranceFaintingChest painShortness of breath
Symptoms of Arrhythmia
Symptoms of arrhythmias can include:Palpitations (e.g., racing heart, skipped or irregular heartbeats)LightheadednessExercise intoleranceFaintingChest painShortness of breath
Symptoms of arrhythmias can include:
A transient heart rhythm problem will not necessarily show up on an ECG. You might be asked to wear aheart monitorfor days to weeks to help diagnose an arrhythmia.
Your healthcare provider may refer you to providers who specialize in treating heart disease and arrhythmias, like a heart specialist (cardiologist) or a heart rhythm specialist (electrophysiologist).
Summary
Arrhythmias are abnormalities in the heart’s rhythm. They can range from harmless to life-threatening. Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia and can be serious, as it increases the risk of stroke and death. Other serious arrhythmias, like ventricular arrhythmias, can result in sudden cardiac death.
A Word From Verywell
If you are having symptoms you think could be from a heart arrhythmia, call your healthcare provider. Finding out you have an arrhythmia can be scary, but your provider can make sure you get the right treatment.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Atrial Fibrillation Fact Sheet.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Atrial Fibrillation.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Arrhythmias.
Stanford Medicine.Types of Arrhythmia.
Texas Heart Institute.Categories of Arrhythmias.
Sirichand S, Killu AM, Padmanabhan D, et al.Incidence of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias: a population-based study.Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2017;10(2):e004662. doi:10.1161/CIRCEP.116.004662
Aronow WS, Ahn C, Mercando AD, Epstein S, Kronzon I.Prevalence and association of ventricular tachycardia and complex ventricular arrhythmias with new coronary events in older men and women with and without cardiovascular disease.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2002;57(3):M178-M180. doi:10.1093/gerona/57.3.m178
Williams BA, Chamberlain AM, Blankenship JC, et al.Trends in atrial fibrillation incidence rates within an integrated health care delivery system, 2006 to 2018.JAMA Netw Open.2020;3(8):e2014874. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.14874
Perez MV, Mahaffey KW, Hedlin H, et al.Large-scale assessment of a smartwatch to identify atrial fibrillation.N Engl J Med. 2019;381(20):1909-1917. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1901183
Kong T, Feulefack J, Ruether K, et al.Ethnic differences in genetic ion channelopathies associated with sudden cardiac death: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Ann Clin Lab Sci. 2017;47(4):481-490.
Heart Rhythm Society.Early Warning Signs.
Boyle T, Blumenthal RS, Calkins H, et al.Expert Analysis: Risk factor modification is an integral part of atrial fibrillation management.American College of Cardiology.March 22, 2021. Published online.
Gerstenfeld EP, De Marco T.Premature ventricular contractions.Circulation. 2019;140(8):624-626. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.040015
Al-Khatib SM, Stevenson WG, Ackerman MJ, et al.2017 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death: Executive summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society[published correction appears in Heart Rhythm. 2018 Sep 26;:].Heart Rhythm. 2018;15(10):e190-e252. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2017.10.035
Sankaranarayanan R, Kirkwood G, Visweswariah R, Fox DJ.How does chronic atrial fibrillation influence mortality in the modern treatment era?Curr Cardiol Rev. 2015;11(3):190-198. doi:10.2174/1573403x10666140902143020
Tsao CW, Aday AW, Almarzooq ZI, et al.Heart disease and stroke statistics—2022 update: A report from the American Heart Association.Circulation.2022;145(8):e153–e639.
American Heart Association.Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Monitoring of Arrhythmia.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
