title: Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation and Relation to Echocardiographic Parameters in a Healthy Asymptomatic Rural Korean Population.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide and a potent independent risk factor for stroke. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of AF in a population-based sample of adults in a rural region of Korea. Between January 2005 and December 2009, 4,067 individuals (60.2 ± 11.2 yr old, M: F = 1,582:2,485) over 21 who were residents of the county of Yangpyeong, Korea, participated in the study. AF was assessed on a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) in 4,053 of the participants. Blood tests and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) were also performed to investigate the relationship between left ventricular mass and AF in the study group. Fifty-four cases (32 men) were diagnosed as AF among the 4,053 subjects. The crude prevalence of AF was 1.3%. It was highest (2.3%) among sixty- and seventy- year olds, and higher in men than women in all age groups over 50. The prevalence in men was 2.0%, and in women 0.9%. In univariate analysis, age, male gender, body mass index, total serum cholesterol, alanine transaminase, serum creatinine, adiponectin level, and ischemic heart disease were associated with AF. Among the TTE parameters, systolic and diastolic left ventricular systolic internal dimension (LVID), and LV ejection fraction were associated with AF. In this relatively healthy population in a rural area of Korea, the prevalence of AF is 1.3%, and increases with age. Of the TTE parameters, systolic and diastolic LVID and left atrial diameter are related to prevalence of AF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri city, Korea.
authors.forename: Hwan-Cheol
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hanyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri city, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri city, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon-Gil
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Bo Youl
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hanyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017678:Sex Distribution; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013318:Stroke Volume
keywords: Atrial Fibrillation; Community-based Cohort; Echocardiography; Electrocardiography; Prevalence