Table 1

Characteristics of cases with atrial fibrillation and controls from Denmark, 1995–2014

 Cases, number (%)Controls, number (%)
(n=88 612)(n=886 120)
Partner bereavement
 Yes17 478 (19.72)168 940 (19.07)
 No71 134 (80.28)717 180 (80.93)
Sex
 Female41 764 (47.13)417 649 (47.13)
 Male46 848 (52.87)468 480 (52.87)
Age (years)
 18–496678 (7.54)66 780 (7.54)
 50–5911 299 (12.75)112 990 (12.75)
 60–6920 875 (23.56)208 750 (23.56)
 70–7925 808 (29.12)258 080 (29.12)
 80–10023 952 (27.03)239 520 (27.03)
Civil status
 Cohabitant*47 956 (54.12)472 338 (53.30)
 Not cohabitant40 656 (45.88)413 782 (46.70)
Education (years)
 <1032 834 (37.05)313 635 (35.39)
 10–1528 334 (31.98)280 719 (31.68)
 >1510 278 (11.60)103 633 (11.70)
Calendar time
 1995–200439 104 (44.13)391 040 (44.13)
 2004–201449 508 (55.87)495 080 (55.87)
Previous hospital diagnoses
 Cardiovascular diseases29 895 (33.73)180 802 (20.40)
  Hypertension17 406 (19.64)108 813 (12.28)
  Ischaemic heart disease†16 680 (18.82)95 540 (10.78)
  Cardiomyopathy909 (1.03)2115 (0.24)
  Congestive heart failure6445 (7.27)26 414 (2,98)
 Hyperthyroidism1787 (2.02)11 527 (1.30)
 Diabetes mellitus11 009 (12.42)87 646 (9.89)
Medicine‡
 ACE or A2R inhibitors21 514 (24.28)151 337 (17.08)
 β-blockers19 176 (21.64)90 784 (10.25)
 Digoxin8071 (9.11)16 350 (1.85)
 Calcium channel blockers4583 (5.17)18 930 (2.14)
 Diuretics28 414 (32.07)181 005 (20.43)
 Nitrates6415 (7.24)29 455 (3.32)
 Thrombocyte function inhibitors23 441 (26.45)158 623 (17.90)
 Lipid modifying agents12 718 (14.35)102 710 (11.59)
 Vitamin K antagonists7744 (8.74)7801 (0.88)
  • *Married or living with a cohabitant partner.

  • †Angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, chronic ischaemic heart disease.

  • ‡Redeemed prescriptions 3 months before index date.

  • A2R, adenosine receptor.