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Mortality in atrial fibrillation. Is it changing?
Alvaro Alonso1, Zakaria Almuwaqqat2, Alanna Chamberlain3
1Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, CNR 3051, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine
|October 31, 2020
Summary
Mortality in atrial fibrillation (AF) has decreased significantly in recent decades for both men and women. These improvements may stem from better prevention of blood clots and comorbidity management in AF patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have historically faced higher mortality rates.
- Recent research investigates trends in AF-related mortality and its impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze changes in mortality rates among patients with atrial fibrillation over recent decades.
- To identify potential factors contributing to observed changes in AF mortality.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent epidemiological studies and mortality data in atrial fibrillation patients.
- Comparative analysis of mortality trends between genders.
Main Results:
- Overall mortality in atrial fibrillation has shown a decreasing trend over the past few decades.
- No significant gender-based differences were observed in the mortality trends.
Conclusions:
- Improvements in AF patient survival are likely linked to advances in preventing thromboembolic events.
- Enhanced management of comorbidities in AF patients may also contribute to reduced mortality.
- Further research is needed to understand these mechanisms and develop new survival-enhancing strategies for AF.
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