title: The prevalence, incidence, management and risks of atrial fibrillation in an elderly Chinese population: a prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is limited information on prevalent and incident atrial fibrillation in Chinese. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, incidence, management and risks of atrial fibrillation in an elderly Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a population--based prospective study in elderly (≥ 60 years) Chinese, we performed cardiovascular health examinations including a 12-lead electrocardiogram at baseline in 3,922 participants and biennially during follow-up in 2,017 participants. We collected information on vital status during the whole follow-up period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline prevalence of atrial fibrillation was 2.0 % (n = 34) in 1718 men and 1.6 % (n = 36) in 2204 women. During a median 3.8 years of follow-up, the incidence rate of atrial fibrillation (n = 34) was 4.9 per 1000 person-years (95 % confidence interval [CI], 3.4-6.9). In univariate analysis, both the prevalence and incidence of atrial fibrillation were higher with age advancing (P < 0.0001) and in the presence of coronary heart disease (P ≤ 0.02). Of the 104 prevalent and incident cases of atrial fibrillation, only 1 (1.0 %) received anticoagulant therapy (warfarin). These patients with atrial fibrillation, compared with those with sinus rhythm, had significantly higher risks of all-cause (n = 261, hazard ratio [HR] 1.87, 95 % CI, 1.09-3.20, P = 0.02), cardiovascular (n = 136, HR 3.78, 95 % CI 2.17-6.58, P < 0.0001) and stroke mortality (n = 44, HR 6.31, 95 % CI 2.81-14.19, P = 0.0003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atrial fibrillation was relatively frequent in elderly Chinese, poorly managed and associated with higher risks of mortality.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. lilihuayncn@163.com.
authors.forename: Li-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. changshenghi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chang-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. hubangchuanicu@163.com.
authors.forename: Bang-Chuan
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. qifanghuang@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Qi-Fang
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. kiwi.zwf@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei-Fang
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. geleli10@163.com.
authors.forename: Ge-Le
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. liumingxinghua@163.com.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. fangfeimuxiang@163.com.
authors.forename: Fang-Fei
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. chongyilu6@126.com.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. kangyuanyuan@163.com.
authors.forename: Yuan-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. jiesong.1984@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. wangshuai_sh@126.com.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. liyanshcn@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. shaowen.liu@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Shao-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. jiguangwang@aim.com.
authors.forename: Ji-Guang
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants