A study of nearly 5,000 Black adults found that a higher resting heart rate was linked to an increased risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common irregular heartbeat with serious health implications. Published in JAMA Network Open and led by Dr. Vid Yogeswaran of the University of Washington, this research highlights a critical gap in understanding AFib risk factors among Black adults, who experience more severe AFib-related outcomes like stroke despite a lower reported AFib prevalence compared to white adults. Analyzing data from the Jackson Heart Study over nearly 14 years, researchers discovered that each 10 beats-per-minute increase in resting heart rate raised AFib risk by 9%. This association held across different ages, sexes, and health statuses, pointing to resting heart rate as a significant risk measure and highlighting the need for further study to enhance AFib screening strategies for Black adults.

Read the article here:
https://newsroom.uw.edu/news-releases/black-adult-afib-risk-linked-to-higher-resting-heart-rates