Prevalence of Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation in Adults

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Abstract
Atrial fibrillation is the most common clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia. It is also a potent risk factor for ischemic stroke, increasing the risk of stroke 5-fold and accounting for approximately 15% of all strokes nationally.1 Symptomatic atrial fibrillation may also reduce quality of life, functional status, and cardiac performance.2 It is associated with higher medical costs as well as an increased risk of death.3 Specifying the prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the United States has important implications for understanding the population burden of disability and medical costs associated with this arrhythmia.