title: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and co-morbidity in elderly. A population based survey of 85 years old subjects.
abstract: The occurrence of AF increases sharply with age. The aim of this study was to explore and compare prevalent co-morbidity and self-estimated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in subjects with AF versus subjects with sinus rhythm or pacemaker in 85 years old subjects. We analyzed data from a population of 336 eighty-five years old subjects participating in the Elderly in Linköping Screening Assessment (ELSA-85) study. Medical history was obtained from postal questionnaire, medical records and during medical examination that included a physical examination, cognitive tests, non-fasting venous blood samples and electrocardiographic (ECG) examination. 19% had an ECG showing AF. There were very few significant differences regarding medical history, self-estimated quality of life (QoL), laboratory- and examination findings and use of public health care between the AF group and the non-AF group. The study showed that the population of 85 years old subjects with AF was surprisingly healthy in terms of prevalent co-existing medical conditions, healthcare contacts and overall HRQoL. We conclude that elderly patients with AF do not in general have increased co-morbidity than subjects without AF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Primary Care, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden. karin.radholm@lio.se
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rådholm
authors.forename: Carl Johan
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Östgren
authors.forename: Urban
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Alehagen
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wressle
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marcusson
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nägga
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires