title: Prevalence of atrial fibrillation and its risk factors in rural China: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in physical laborers in rural China and identify contributing risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of 11,956 permanent residents of Liaoning Province in rural China≥35y of age (primarily physical laborers) was conducted between January and August 2013 (response rate 85.3%). All participants completed a questionnaire and underwent a physical exam, echocardiography and electrocardiography. Blood samples were drawn for laboratory analyses, and AF was diagnosed on the basis of history and electrocardiograph findings. Risk factors for AF were evaluated with a stepwise logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of AF was 1.2% overall, but rose steeply with age (0.1% in those 35-44y of age, and 4.6% in those≥75y); there was no significant gender difference at any age. Independent risk factors for AF were age (odds ratio [OR] 1.89; P<0.001), diabetes (OR 2.07; P=0.001), history of myocardial infarction (OR 5.91; P<0.001), low left ventricular ejection fraction (OR 1.85; P=0.005), and low physical activity (OR 1.72; P=0.003), whereas obesity, hypertension, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, current smoking and drinking, left ventricular hypertrophy, and family history of AF were not significant contributors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the prevalence of AF in physical labors in rural China is low, age, diabetes, history of myocardial infarction, low left ventricular ejection fraction, and low physical activity are independent risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Zhe
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Xun-Zhang
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Jie
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China.
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China. Electronic address: cmu1h_syx@126.com.
authors.forename: Ying-Xian
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Physical laborers; Rural China