Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia and one of the top five causes of hospitalisation for cardiovascular diseases in Croatia among both genders aged 35 to 64. It is estimated that by 2030, between 14 and 17 million individuals in the European Union will be affected by the condition, according to data presented at a conference organised by the Task Force on Arrhythmias and Cardiac Electrostimulation and the Croatian Cardiology Society in Zagreb.
Ablation, a highly effective procedure, is successfully performed at ten hospitals across Croatia. The country ranks fifth in Europe for the number of patients undergoing ablation per million inhabitants. Over the past eight years, the total number of ablations performed in Croatia has doubled, it was said at the event.
Heart disease remains a major public health concern in Croatia. Last year, 19,937 people died from heart-related conditions, accounting for 38.8 percent of all deaths. Cardiovascular diseases also contributed to 23 percent of premature deaths, defined as those occurring before the age of 65.