Atrial fibrillation prevalence and management patterns in a Middle Eastern community in the United States: A...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent cardiac dysrhythmia in the US, with increasing morbidity and economic impact.
• Existing research indicates varying AF prevalence across racial and ethnic groups, notably lower rates in Black populations.
• No prior studies have investigated AF prevalence specifically within Middle Eastern communities in the US.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine and compare the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in Middle Eastern patients.
• To analyze AF prevalence patterns in Middle Eastern individuals relative to White and Black patient groups in Southeast Michigan.
• To identify demographic and clinical characteristics associated with AF in these populations.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cross-sectional study design.
• Analysis of a large cohort of 919,454 patients from Southeast Michigan.
• Comparison of AF prevalence across Middle Eastern, Black, and White patient groups, with multivariable analysis.

Main Results:

• Overall AF prevalence was approximately 5%, with lower rates observed in Middle Eastern (2.8%) and Black (3.4%) patients compared to White patients (6.5%).
• Middle Eastern patients with AF were younger and exhibited fewer cardiovascular risk factors than their White counterparts.
• Multivariable analysis confirmed that Middle Eastern and Black racial identity were independently associated with a lower likelihood of AF.

Conclusions:

• Middle Eastern and Black individuals in Southeast Michigan demonstrate a lower prevalence of atrial fibrillation compared to White individuals.
• AF in Middle Eastern patients presents with distinct characteristics, including younger age and reduced cardiovascular risk factors.
• These findings underscore the importance of considering ethnic and racial variations in AF prevalence and risk stratification.