Description

IREGBEATEV identifies sample adults whom a doctor or other health professional had ever diagnosed as having irregular heartbeats. Respondents who ever had this condition diagnosed were asked whether they had irregular heartbeats during the past 12 months (IREGBEATYR).

Irregular heartbeat, also known as arrhythmia, may be caused by many factors, including coronary artery disease, electrolyte imbalance in the blood, injury from a heart attack, thyroid disease, or anxiety. One of the most common forms of irregular heartbeat is Atrial Fibrillation (AF), a very fast heart rhythm in which the upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of beating and the blood is not completely emptied from the heart's chambers. Atrial Fibrillation increases an individual's risk of stroke or heart failure. No definition of irregular heartbeat was given to respondents or interviewers.

Comparability

This variable is only available for 2002.

Universe

Availability

• 2002

Weights

• 2002 : SAMPWEIGHT