title: Incidence and Risk Factors for Atrial Fibrillation in Korea: the National Health Insurance Service Database (2002-2010).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia that is known as an important independent risk factor for stroke. However, limited information is available on AF in Korea. This study evaluated the incidence of AF, its associated co-morbidities and risk factors for AF in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  The National Health Insurance Service database between 2002 and 2010 was used in the study. Individuals<30 years old and those diagnosed with AF between 2002 and 2004 were excluded. Hazard ratios (HRs) according to co-morbidities and risk factors for AF were determined using a Cox proportional hazard model. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) of AF risk factors were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During a 6-year follow-up period, 3517 (1.7%) developed AF. The incidence rates in men and women aged 30-39 years were 0.82 and 0.55 per 1000 person-years, respectively; the incidence rates further increased with age to 13.09 and 11.54 per 1000 person-years in men and women aged≥80 years, respectively. The risk factors for incident AF were age, sex, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and heart failure. After adjusting for variables related to AF, the risk of AF was significantly associated with hypertension (HR 1.667), IHD (HR 1.639), heart failure (HR 1.521), and the PAFs for age, sex, BMI, hypertension, IHD, heart failure and diabetes mellitus were 30.6%, 10.1%, 3.4%, 16.6%, 8.2%, 5.3% and 0.8%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incidence of AF increased with age and was higher in men than in women. A larger proportion of AF events was attributable to hypertension than to other co-morbidities.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular and Rare Diseases, Center for Biomedical Science, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Kyoung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular and Rare Diseases, Center for Biomedical Science, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Nam-Kyoo
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Myeong-Chan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular and Rare Diseases, Center for Biomedical Science, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Comorbidity; Incidence