RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Comprehensive nationwide incidence and prevalence trends of atrial fibrillation in Finland
JF Open Heart
JO Open Heart
FD British Cardiovascular Society
SP e002140
DO 10.1136/openhrt-2022-002140
VO 9
IS 2
A1 Mika Lehto
A1 Jari Haukka
A1 Aapo Aro
A1 Olli Halminen
A1 Jukka Putaala
A1 Miika Linna
A1 Pirjo Mustonen
A1 Janne Kinnunen
A1 Elis Kouki
A1 Jussi Niiranen
A1 Alex Luojus
A1 Paula Tiili
A1 Saga Itäinen-Strömberg
A1 Juha Hartikainen
A1 Juhani K E Airaksinen
A1 ,
YR 2022
UL http://openheart.bmj.com/content/9/2/e002140.abstract
AB Objective Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a worldwide healthcare challenge owing to population ageing. In this study, we assessed the current trends in the incidence and prevalence of AF for the first time in an unselected, nationwide population.Methods In the Finnish Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation study, we gathered comprehensive data including all primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare visits and drug reimbursement from national healthcare registers to identify all patients with incident AF between 2004 and 2018 in Finland. Incident AF was defined as new-onset AF occurring after 2007. Time trends for the incidence and prevalence of AF were calculated and stratified by sex and age.Results A total of 411 387 patients with AF diagnosis were documented in Finland during 2004–2018. In 2018, the incidence and prevalence of AF in the total Finnish population were 469/100 000 and 4.1%, respectively. The incidence of new-onset AF in the adult population (≥20 years) increased from 471/100 000 in 2007 to 604/100 000 in 2018, but the age-adjusted incidence remained stable. The prevalence of AF increased in the adult population from 2.5% to 5.2%, and was higher in men than in women (5.9% vs 4.6%, p<0.001). The incidence and prevalence of AF increased with age and were 3194/100 000 and 23.4% in patients older than 75 years.Conclusions Based on comprehensive nationwide data including primary care, we observed an increasing incidence and prevalence of AF over time. This increase was strongly age-dependent with the age-standardised incidence remaining stable during 2007–2018.Trial registration number NCT04645537.No data are available. Based on the contracts with the Finnish registries, the data are not available for sharing. Requests to access the dataset from qualified researchers trained in human subject confidentiality protocols may be sent to the Finnish national register holders.