The diagnosis of a dangerous heart arrhythmia – atrial fibrillation (AF) – has the potential of doubling to 12.1 million in the U.S. by 2030, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Cardiology.
 
But those predictions have a wide range of uncertainty, say researchers.
 
Future trends show a probability of increased numbers for the irregular heartbeat – simply given the fact of the aging Baby Boomer generation and the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the U.S.
 
But limiting the study findings were variability in future trends for the arrhythmia and the inclusion of only privately insured people for the study.
 
Also of interest is that the study of a stroke-inducing arrhythmia was funded by a pharmaceutical company (Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer) that is marketing a drug used to reduce stroke risk in people with AF, according to a Reuters article.
 
For tips on coding for AF-related treatments, turn to Cardiology Coder’s Pink Sheet.