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Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
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Prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the general population and in high-risk groups: the ECHOES study

Russell C Davis1, F D Richard Hobbs, Joyce E Kenkre

  • 1University Department of Medicine, Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, West Bromwich, West Midlands, UK. russell.davis@swbh.nhs.uk

Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology
|April 12, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in older adults and individuals with heart conditions, affecting 2.0% of the general UK population. Early screening of at-risk groups is recommended to identify more cases of this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent cardiac arrhythmia.
  • Understanding the prevalence of AF in diverse populations is crucial for public health initiatives.
  • Risk factors for AF include age, heart failure, myocardial infarction, hypertension, angina, and diabetes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the general UK population.
  • To assess AF prevalence in individuals with known cardiovascular risk factors.
  • To investigate the association between AF and mortality.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study involving 3960 randomly selected individuals aged 45+.
  • Inclusion of 782 patients with heart failure and 1062 with a history of myocardial infarction, hypertension, angina, or diabetes.
  • Clinical assessment, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and 8-year mortality tracking.

Main Results:

  • AF prevalence was 2.0% in the general population sample, with higher rates in men (2.4%) and older individuals (8.0% in those 75+).
  • AF was detected in 22.4% of heart failure patients and varied among other risk groups (5.7% post-myocardial infarction, 5.3% in diabetics).
  • Mortality was 1.57 times higher in individuals with AF, and anticoagulation use was low (29.5% of AF patients).

Conclusions:

  • Atrial fibrillation is highly prevalent in the elderly and those with cardiovascular risk factors.
  • Screening at-risk populations can significantly increase AF case detection.
  • Low anticoagulation use highlights a potential area for improved patient management.
Abstract

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