A survey of subjects with present or previous atrial fibrillation in a Swedish community.
OBJECTIVE
A study of subjects with known atrial fibrillation (AF) in a Swedish community.


METHODS
A survey of subjects with present, or previous, AF (at 30 September 1998) identified through medical records.


METHODS
A community in the Stockholm Metropolitan area.


RESULTS
Altogether 230 subjects, mean age 73 years, with a history of AF were identified (140 men and 90 women). One-hundred-and-forty-nine patients were identified as having chronic, irreversible AF (65%). Of those with chronic AF, heart failure was noted in 53%, a valvular disease in 8%, hypertension in 32%, coronary heart disease in 36%, diabetes in 17% and an earlier ischaemic cerebrovascular episode in 30%. Hypertension was found as a significant factor for earlier ischaemic cerebrovascular episodes (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.20-5.19). Anticoagulant treatment was prescribed in 32% out of those with chronic AF. The estimated overall occurrence of subjects with present, or a history of, AF was 0.7% in the community and 1.4% when standardising by age and sex to the whole Swedish population.


CONCLUSIONS
AF is a common arrhythmia in Sweden, with an estimated occurrence of 1-1.5%, but despite a high rate of ischaemic cerebrovascular events in chronic AF (30%) a low prescription of anticoagulants.
Wändell
P E
PE
The Husläkarna i Osteråker Health Centre, Akersberga, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000925:Anticoagulants