Khan, Junaid Ayaz, Anwar, Sidra, Baig, Beenish Ali, Iguodale, Osagie Joy, Philip, Shinu, Riaz, Kinza, Hussain CP, Haniyya, Khan, Shaumile Hasan, Khan, Qaiser, Mohammadi, Misha and Vunyorohwashe, Makurira (2026) Hidden Beats: Detection of Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation Using Questionnaires in Young Adults and Its Cardiovascular Risk Profile. Juntendo Medical Journal.

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Abstract

Objectives The objectives were to identify subclinical AF in young individuals and to examine its association with cardiovascular risk profile and quality of life (QoL) in a young adult cohort.

Design A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 403 adults aged 18-40 years in public and private hospitals.

Methods The INTERHEART Modifiable Risk Score (IHMRS), Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality-of-Life (AFEQT) questionnaire, and the Modified European Heart Rhythm Association (mEHRA) were used to collect data. The statistics were performed using descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation, the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and multiple linear regression in IBM SPSS 26.

Results Of the 403 respondents, the majority were male (85%) and aged 36-40 (30%). A stronger negative correlation with QoL (0.42, p < 0.001) and a weaker positive correlation with cardiovascular risk (0.13, p = 0.009) were observed between higher EHRA symptom severity and cardiovascular risk. There was also a negative correlation between QoL and IHMRS (r = -0.29, p  = < 0.001). Women presented with greater symptoms and low QoL (p < 0.001). The regression analysis showed that predictors of better IHMRS were age, male gender, higher EHRA scores, physical inactivity, and a family history of CVD. In contrast, better QoL was a protective factor (p < 0.01).

Conclusions Subclinical AF symptoms were highly correlated with increased cardiovascular risks and decreased QoL in young adults. Early detection of high-risk individuals, especially in settings with limited resources, could be achieved through simple questionnaire-based screening.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
DOI:	10.14789/ejmj.JMJ25-0068-OA
Subjects:	R Medicine > RT Nursing R Medicine > RZ Other systems of medicine
School/Department:	London Campus
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/14111

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