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Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation and Long-Term Survival of Older Adults; Findings from the SNAC Study

Lindberg, Terese LU ; Sanmartin Berglund, Johan LU ; Wimo, Anders ; Qiu, Chengxuan ; Bohman, Doris M. and Elmståhl, Sölve LU (2024) In Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine 10.
Abstract

Objective: This study examined the prevalence and long-term survival of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the older population. Methods: Data was recruited from the longitudinal SNAC study from baseline (2001–2004) for up to 10 years. Results: The population comprised 6,904 persons (59% women) (mean age 73.9 years). The prevalence of AF was 4.9% and increased with age. The hazard ratio (HR) for death in those with AF at baseline was 1.29 during the 10-year observation period. Cox regression analysis in persons with AF (n = 341) showed that men had a higher HR for death (1.57). CHA2DS2-VASc scores were significantly associated with death within 10 years (HR 1.29/score). Any form of anticoagulant use was reported in 146 (42.8%) and was... (More)

Objective: This study examined the prevalence and long-term survival of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the older population. Methods: Data was recruited from the longitudinal SNAC study from baseline (2001–2004) for up to 10 years. Results: The population comprised 6,904 persons (59% women) (mean age 73.9 years). The prevalence of AF was 4.9% and increased with age. The hazard ratio (HR) for death in those with AF at baseline was 1.29 during the 10-year observation period. Cox regression analysis in persons with AF (n = 341) showed that men had a higher HR for death (1.57). CHA2DS2-VASc scores were significantly associated with death within 10 years (HR 1.29/score). Any form of anticoagulant use was reported in 146 (42.8%) and was significantly associated with survival (p =.031). Conclusions: The prevalence of AF in the general population was almost 5%, and it shortened life expectancy by nearly 2.4 years over a 10-year period. Despite the proven efficacy of OAC therapies, our results demonstrate that AF continues to be associated with increased mortality, especially among men, and that many older people are at high risk of developing a stroke because they do not receive appropriate anticoagulant therapy. These results emphasize the need for improved preventive and therapeutic modalities.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
atrial fibrillation, long-term survival, older adults, prevalence, SNAC
in
Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
volume
10
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • pmid:39628548
  • scopus:85211173717
ISSN
2333-7214
DOI
10.1177/23337214241304887
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
03a04118-21ce-4704-93d6-21821a2c6d4f
date added to LUP
2025-01-27 14:41:52
date last changed
2025-07-01 03:15:21
@article{03a04118-21ce-4704-93d6-21821a2c6d4f,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objective: This study examined the prevalence and long-term survival of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the older population. Methods: Data was recruited from the longitudinal SNAC study from baseline (2001–2004) for up to 10 years. Results: The population comprised 6,904 persons (59% women) (mean age 73.9 years). The prevalence of AF was 4.9% and increased with age. The hazard ratio (HR) for death in those with AF at baseline was 1.29 during the 10-year observation period. Cox regression analysis in persons with AF (n = 341) showed that men had a higher HR for death (1.57). CHA2DS2-VASc scores were significantly associated with death within 10 years (HR 1.29/score). Any form of anticoagulant use was reported in 146 (42.8%) and was significantly associated with survival (p =.031). Conclusions: The prevalence of AF in the general population was almost 5%, and it shortened life expectancy by nearly 2.4 years over a 10-year period. Despite the proven efficacy of OAC therapies, our results demonstrate that AF continues to be associated with increased mortality, especially among men, and that many older people are at high risk of developing a stroke because they do not receive appropriate anticoagulant therapy. These results emphasize the need for improved preventive and therapeutic modalities.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lindberg, Terese and Sanmartin Berglund, Johan and Wimo, Anders and Qiu, Chengxuan and Bohman, Doris M. and Elmståhl, Sölve}},
  issn         = {{2333-7214}},
  keywords     = {{atrial fibrillation; long-term survival; older adults; prevalence; SNAC}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine}},
  title        = {{Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation and Long-Term Survival of Older Adults; Findings from the SNAC Study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/23337214241304887}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/23337214241304887}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}