Epidemiology of atrial fibrillation in Spain in the past 20 years.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia. Because of its potentially serious clinical consequences (heart failure, stroke, and cognitive impairment), atrial fibrillation has important socioeconomic and health implications. This article reviews the major studies on the epidemiology of atrial fibrillation in Spain. Recent data suggest that in people older than 40 years, the prevalence of atrial fibrillation may be more than 4%. Given the current Spanish demography, these data would imply that more than 1 million people in Spain have atrial fibrillation.
Unidad de Arritmias, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: jvillacastin@secardiologia.es.
Julián
J
Pérez-Villacastín
Unidad de Arritmias, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
Nicasio
N
Pérez Castellano
Unidad de Arritmias, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
Javier
J
Moreno Planas
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
AF; Atrial fibrillation; ECG; Epidemiology; Epidemiología; Fibrilación auricular; HT; Incidence; Incidencia; Prevalence; Prevalencia; atrial fibrillation; electrocardiogram; hypertension