Don't Ignore Atrial Fibrillation, a Heart Rhythm Disorder That Can Trigger a Stroke

Heart rhythm disorders, or arrhythmias, are often not recognised by the public, yet these conditions can trigger serious complications such as stroke and even heart failure. Data from the World Health Organization show that cardiovascular disease remains the world’s leading cause of death, with an estimated 19.8 million deaths in 2022. One form of heart disorder to watch out for is atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common type of arrhythmia. Globally, cases of atrial fibrillation were estimated at around 59–60 million in 2019 and the numbers continue to rise. This condition often goes undetected because many patients do not experience symptoms. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Director of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Indonesian Ministry of Health, said that arrhythmias are a health issue requiring attention due to their strong association with heart disease and stroke. She said that around a third of atrial fibrillation patients are asymptomatic, so many new cases are identified only after complications occur. “Untreated AF can significantly raise the risk of stroke. Therefore, screening and early detection become highly important,” she said in a statement on Thursday (5/3). Data from Siloam Hospitals TB Simatupang show a strong link between arrhythmia and stroke. In the 2024–2025 period, around 33 per cent of stroke patients undergoing outpatient monitoring or Holter monitoring were found to have arrhythmia. Moreover, around 37 per cent of stroke patients treated at the hospital were in the working age group. During the same period, 1,723 arrhythmia patients were detected and treated. Erika Maharani, chairperson of the Indonesian Heart Rhythm Society, said the number of arrhythmia patients continues to rise while health services face challenges such as limited infrastructure and uneven distribution of sub-specialists in arrhythmia. In response to these conditions, the professional organisation is pushing for strengthened early detection, expanded access to services, and the development of a national arrhythmia registry based on data. Meanwhile, Grace Frelita, Chief Medical Officer of Siloam International Hospitals, said the group continues to strengthen integrated cardiac services across its hospital network. Currently, Siloam operates 14 integrated cardiac care centres, supported by more than 250 heart specialists and subspecialists. Each year, the network handles more than 2,100 cardiac operations and around 15,800 procedures in its cardiac catheterisation laboratories (Cath Labs). An arrhythmia expert and cardiologist at Siloam Hospitals TB Simatupang, Yoga Yuniadi, explained that up to 40 per cent of ischaemic stroke cases globally are related to atrial fibrillation. He said one effective therapeutic approach is catheter ablation, aimed at restoring the heart’s rhythm to normal. “Performing ablation early not only improves patients’ quality of life but can also reduce the risk of stroke and improve life expectancy,” he said. To raise public awareness of heart rhythm disorders, Siloam Hospitals TB Simatupang launched the education campaign ‘Let’s Check The Beat’, encouraging people to undertake early detection via electrocardiogram (ECG). Through the programme, the public can also receive education on risk factors, prevention, and advances in technology in the management of arrhythmia.