Low prevalence of atrial fibrillation in asymptomatic adults in Geneva, Switzerland.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a population-based sample of adults.


RESULTS
Between January 2005 and December 2007 individuals aged > or =50 years, residents of the city of Geneva, who had participated in a previous random survey were invited for follow-up examination. AF was assessed on a single resting 6-lead ECG. Reported prevalences were standardized for the age distribution of Canton Geneva. Overall participation was 72.8%. Twenty-nine cases of AF (22 men) were diagnosed among 3285 subjects (1696 men). The crude prevalence of AF (95% CI) was 0.88% (0.86, 0.90) overall, but higher in men [1.30% (1.26, 1.34)] than in women [0.44% (0.41, 0.47)]. The age-standardized AF prevalence was slightly higher [overall: 0.94% (0.91, 0.97), men: 1.23% (1.19, 1.27), women: 0.54% (0.47, 0.61)]. AF prevalence increased with age in both sexes. A 'history of suspected arterial embolism' (brain or legs) was higher in the AF cases (10.3 vs. 3.3%; P = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
This population-based survey of a general Swiss population indicates that the prevalence of AF remains below 1%. These results are less alarming than those from previous studies based on patients seeking medical care.
Schmutz
Mathieu
M
Cardiovascular Department, Hôpital de La Tour, Geneva, Switzerland. mathieuschmutz@yahoo.fr
Beer-Borst
Sigrid
S
Meiltz
Alexandre
A
Urban
Philip
P
Gaspoz
Jean-Michel
JM
Costanza
Michael C
MC
Morabia
Alfredo
A
Zimmermann
Marc
M
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*