Atrial fibrillation (known as AF or AFib) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, and most patients are diagnosed at age 70 or older. But our research has shown that for some younger patients, AFib can be the first sign of a genetic heart disease. These younger patients may develop other serious cardiac disorders like heart failure or life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.  

The ground-breaking work of researchers at Vanderbilt, along with international collaborators, has shown that patients with atrial fibrillation who had positive genetic testing had a higher risk of mortality, specifically from heart failure and sudden death, and could benefit from closer surveillance and personalized care strategies.  

This research, supported by the international cardiology community, has led to a change in practice guidelines. Genetic evaluations are now recommended for younger patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, especially if there are signs of other cardiac abnormalities or a family history of atrial fibrillation.