People with a common irregular heartbeat must be treated better in order to avoid a stroke epidemic, according to a report.

Some 12,000 strokes in the UK each year are a direct result of atrial fibrillation, the most common sustained heart rhythm disorder, says the study by the Atrial Fibrillation Association and AntiCoagulation Europe UK.

The condition increases the risk of stroke by nearly 500 per cent, it adds.

Many of these strokes could be prevented with more use of anticoagulation therapy.

Despite widespread availability of these treatments, only 18 per cent of AF patients who could benefit from anticoagulation receive adequate therapy.

AF is responsible for 45 per cent of embolic strokes (the most common kind, caused by blood clots). It is also responsible for strokes which are more severe and lead to greater disability, increasing the risk of a further stroke.