According to consultant cardiologist Dr Koh Kok Wei, atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide, affecting about 1% of the population. The risk is higher among individuals aged 65 and above, and in patients with conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
“AF is essentially an irregular heartbeat, and its danger lies in the increased risk of stroke and, in some cases, heart failure. Many patients only realise they have AF during routine check-ups or after complications occur,” Koh told Bernama.
He highlighted that some patients present with shortness of breath, leg swelling, chest tightness, or difficulty breathing, while others only discover AF when admitted to the emergency department after a stroke.
Koh, who specialises in electrophysiology, said modern treatment for arrhythmias has advanced significantly compared to decades ago, when open-heart surgery was required to physically cut and remove abnormal electrical pathways in the heart.
“For arrhythmia, especially fast and irregular heartbeats, most treatments today are done with small punctures – known as radiofrequency ablation – without the need to open the chest.
“They are often performed under local anaesthesia with light sedation,” he said, adding that in many cases, patients are discharged within a day of the procedure.
Koh noted that outcomes for AF are steadily improving as technology advances, while the success rate for treating supraventricular tachycardia, or fast heartbeat, exceeds 95%.
He stressed the importance of timely diagnosis and the need for comprehensive hospital services to ensure seamless care.
“A full-fledged cardiac hospital should ideally include electrophysiology services, along with the technology and expertise to manage complex heart-rhythm disorders,” he said.
Finally, Koh urges Malaysians to adopt healthier lifestyles to reduce their risk of heart-rhythm disorders.
“Eat healthily, exercise more, and go for regular medical check-ups. Lifestyle and diet definitely contribute a lot to the current landscape of diseases.”
Malaysians aged 40 and above should undergo regular medical screenings, as many conditions start with no or minimal symptoms, he added.