Impact of the 2023 Turkiye Earthquake on the Incidence of Hospitalized Acute Atrial Fibrillation and Ventricular Tachycardia

Background: Natural disasters impose substantial psychological and physiological stress, which may serve as powerful triggers for cardiac arrhythmias. Previous earthquakes worldwide have been linked to a rise in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, yet data from Türkiye are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the devastating 2023 Türkiye Earthquake on the incidence of hospitalized acute atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT). Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective analysis at a tertiary referral hospital that served as a major regional care center following the earthquake. Hospital admissions for acute AF and VT were compared across two consecutive two-month periods: pre-earthquake (December 6, 2022–February 6, 2023) and post-earthquake (February 6–April 6, 2023). Adult patients aged ≥18 years with electrocardiographically confirmed AF or VT requiring hospitalization were included. Results: A significant increase was observed in AF hospitalizations post-earthquake (11 vs. 24 cases; 0.35% vs. 0.75%; p=0.029), while VT admissions showed a non-significant rise (11 vs. 14 cases; p=0.56). Demographics and comorbidities were comparable between groups. Post-earthquake AF patients had shorter hospital stays. In both cohorts, hospitalizations were shorter following the earthquake. Conclusion: Hospitalizations for acute AF significantly increased after the 2023 Turkiye Earthquake, likely due to stress-related arrhythmogenesis. Although VT admissions also rose, the difference was not statistically significant.