Status of the epidemiology of atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation (AF), an increasingly common dysrhythmia, is responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality. Currently in the United States, approximately 2.3 million people are diagnosed with AF and, based on the census, this number may rise to 5.6 million by 2050. Risk factors for AF include advancing age and cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. The chief hazard of AF is embolic stroke, which is increased four- to fivefold, assuming great importance in advanced age when it becomes a dominant factor. AF is associated with about a doubling of mortality.
Boston University, The Framingham Heart Study, 73 Mount Wayte Avenue, Framingham, MA 01702, USA. billkannel@yahoo.com
William B
WB
Kannel
Emelia J
EJ
Benjamin
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends