Prevalence of atrial fibrillation

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide and is associated with increased morbi-mortality. The prevalence of AF in the Western world is increasing; however, reports on the prevalence of AF in the past decade are scarce, and whether the prevalence of AF increased during the last decade in Switzerland remains uncertain. Therefore, using data from a Swiss population-based sample, we aimed to assess the point prevalence of AF from 2014 to 2017 and to investigate determinants of AF. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of 4616 Caucasian participants aged 45–86 years (55% women) from a population-based sample was designed to explore the point prevalence and determinants of cardiovascular risk factors in the population of Lausanne, Switzerland. AF was assessed using electrocardiography (ECG) between 2014 and 2017. Results Overall, the point prevalence of AF was 0.9% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.7–1.2%) and the combined AF + atrial flutter (AFL) point prevalence was 1.1% (95% CI: 8.4–1.5%). The point prevalence of AF was higher among men (81% vs. 19% in women) and increased with age, reaching 3.1% in participants aged ≥ 80. In multivariable analysis, male gender (odds ratio and 95% CI: 4.98 [1.01–24.6]) and increasing age (2.86 [1.40–5.87] per decade) were associated with AF. Conclusion The point prevalence of AF and of AF + AFL, assessed between 2014 and 2017 in the city of Lausanne (Switzerland), was low but increased with age and in men.