title: The global burden of atrial fibrillation and stroke: a systematic review of the epidemiology of atrial fibrillation in regions outside North America and Europe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is accepted as the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, most published epidemiologic studies focus on predominantly white populations in North America or Europe, and information on AF in nonwhite populations is scarce. The objective of this study was to undertake a systematic review of the published literature on the epidemiology of AF in other regions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic literature searches (MEDLINE; 1990-2010) identified epidemiologic studies reporting on the prevalence or incidence of AF, stroke in AF, risk factors for AF, or the use of antithrombotic therapy in countries outside North America and Europe. This report presents a descriptive analysis of the data; no meta-analysis was planned.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Many of the 38 articles identified were from the Far East, although Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and South America were also represented. The reported prevalence of AF varied among countries, with different ranges in community- and hospital-based studies (0.1%-4% and 2.8%-14%, respectively). The use of anticoagulant therapy varied widely among countries and studies, as did the reported prevalence of stroke in patients with AF (2.8%-24.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-quality epidemiologic studies are clearly required to improve understanding of the worldwide burden of AF and stroke in AF. Major improvements in the provision of thromboprophylaxis are also needed in many countries, given the high proportion of untreated patients who are, hence, at risk of stroke.
authors.affiliation: University of Birmingham Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham. Electronic address: g.y.h.lip@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gregory Y H
authors.initials: GYH
authors.lastname: Lip
authors.affiliation: Research Evaluation Unit, Oxford PharmaGenesis Ltd, Oxford, England.
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Brechin
authors.affiliation: University of Birmingham Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham.
authors.forename: Deirdre A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lane
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005202:Asia, Eastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D014943:Global Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013020:South America / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*