The paradox of atrial fibrillation in African Americans

The reported lower prevalence and incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) despite the higher prevalence of AF risk factors in African Americans compared to Caucasian whites has been referred to as the paradox of AF in African Americans. In this report we highlight this paradox and address potential explanations using data from several US populations studies. These possible explanations include limited methodology to detect AF patterns that are harder to detect (e.g. paroxysmal/intermittent AF or atrial flutter) coupled with the possibility of African Americans having more of these patterns, differential access to health care with African Americans having less access and subsequently less detected AF, survival bias with Caucasian whites living longer and subsequently having more AF, and finally differential impact of AF risk factors with Caucasian whites being more affected or African Americans less affected by AF risk factors whether this is genetically determined or via other unknown predispositions.