Arrhythmias & electrophysiology

Minimum National Prevalence of Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation Inferred From California Acute Care Facilities

J Am Coll CardiolPublished Retrospective cohort study

Authors' conclusion

The prevalence of diagnosed AF in the United States is higher than previously estimated.

Study context

Population
Adults aged ≥20 years receiving hospital-based care in California, 2005–2019
Participants
29,250,310 adults
Outcome
Age-, sex- and race-standardized national prevalence and number of adults with diagnosed AF in the US
Methodological detailsstate-wide health care databases, age-, sex- and race-standardized
  • State-wide health care databases
  • Age-, sex- and race-standardized

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

National prevalence of diagnosed AF (standardized to US population)

Adults with diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) in the US (at least)

10.55 million

95% CI 10.48–10.62 million

Proportion of US adult population

4.48%

95% CI 4.47%–4.49%

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

Diagnosed AF in the California cohort

Patients with AF diagnosis
2,003,867 (6.8%)
Proportion with diagnosed AF, 2005 to 2009
4.49%
Proportion with diagnosed AF, 2015 to 2019
6.82%

AF patient characteristics over time

AF patients became relatively younger, less likely female or White, more likely to have hypertension and diabetes

Original publication

Minimum National Prevalence of Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation Inferred From California Acute Care Facilities. J Am Coll Cardiol. Published 11 September 2024. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2024.07.014

Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →

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