Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of Journal of the American College of Cardiology, S0735109724079038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2024.07.014 Dr. Jean Jacques Noubiap et al.
Points
- A recent study updated the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the U.S., estimating that over 10.55 million adults (4.48% of the population) now have AF, which is significantly higher than previous estimates.
- The study analyzed a cohort of 29.25 million adults in California from 2005 to 2019, finding that the proportion of diagnosed AF rose from 4.49% to 6.82% during this period.
- Over time, patients diagnosed with AF have become younger, less likely to be female or White, and more likely to have hypertension and diabetes.
- The results emphasize the growing burden of AF, underscoring the need for improved prevention and treatment strategies to address this rise in cases.
- The study highlights the importance of targeted interventions, particularly for younger populations and those with hypertension and diabetes, to mitigate the increasing prevalence of AF.
Summary
A recent study updated the prevalence estimates of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the United States, addressing the need for more contemporary data since previous estimates over two decades ago projected 3.3 million adults with AF by 2020. The objective was to determine the current age-, sex-, and race-standardized prevalence and total number of adults diagnosed with AF in the U.S.
Researchers merged California’s statewide healthcare databases to create a cohort of 29,250,310 adults aged 20 years and older who received hospital-based care from 2005 to 2019. The mean age was 50.6 ± 19.8 years; 53.8% were women, and 50.1% were White. AF and comorbidities were identified using International Classification of Diseases codes, and deaths were accounted for. They found that 2,003,867 patients (6.8%) had an AF diagnosis. The proportion of diagnosed AF increased from 4.49% between 2005 and 2009 to 6.82% between 2015 and 2019. Over time, patients with AF became relatively younger, less likely to be female or White, and more likely to have hypertension and diabetes. After standardizing to the U.S. population based on age, sex, race, and ethnicity, the estimated current national prevalence of diagnosed AF is at least 10.55 million (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.48–10.62 million), comprising 4.48% (95% CI: 4.47%–4.49%) of the adult population.
The study concludes that the prevalence of diagnosed AF in the United States is higher than previously estimated. This elevated prevalence emphasizes the need for more efficient prevention and treatment strategies to curb the growing burden of AF nationwide. The shift in demographics—particularly the increase among younger individuals and those with hypertension and diabetes—highlights the importance of targeted interventions in these populations.
Link to the article: https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2024.07.014
References Noubiap, J. J., Tang, J. J., Teraoka, J. T., Dewland, T. A., & Marcus, G. M. (2024). Minimum National Prevalence of Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation Inferred From California Acute Care Facilities. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, S0735109724079038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2024.07.014
