Browse Guides  internal medicine  cardiology

Atrial fibrillation

Prevalence
Causes
Clinical features
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis
Prevalence

Atrial fibrillation is relatively common a especially in   
  • the elderly
  • patients with permanent pacemakers c  

Note:

  • 8% to 12% of people develop AF a
  • 10% of patients with permanent pacemakers are in chronic AF (95% CI: 6% to 14%) c

The risk of developing AF increases with age

Age a prevalence of AF
50 to 59 0.5%
60 to 69 1.8%
70 to 79 4.8%
80 to 89 8.8%

Expiry date: February 2003
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides

Authors   CM   Ball , N   Shenker
Reviewer   R G   Hart
CAT Writers   CM   Ball , N   Shenker , CJ   Wotton