{
  "abstract": "Background The high prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and its association with cardiovascular (CV) outcomes represent a challenge for public health systems, particularly in ageing societies.Objective The aim of this study was to conduct a thorough epidemiological analysis of AF in Catalonia, a region with high life expectancy, from prevalence and incidence to mortality and associated healthcare resource use.Methods This retrospective population-based study used the database of the Catalan public health system, including 8 million people. AF prevalence, incidence and mortality were assessed from 2019 to 2023. Comorbidities and healthcare resource expenditure in prevalent AF cases were assessed for the year 2023. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, income and comorbidities.Results During the 5-year study period, the age-standardised prevalence of AF remained stable (2.5%), while incidence decreased, from 3.8‰ to 3.6‰. In 2023, the AF population had a median age of 77.6 years and had a high burden of comorbidities including heart failure (37.6%), obesity (33.8%) and coronary heart disease (26.7%). Low socioeconomic status was associated with higher AF prevalence. There was a modest association between AF and all-cause mortality (OR 1.25). The healthcare resource use associated with AF was estimated to account for 2% of the annual Catalan health budget.Conclusions In Catalonia, AF prevalence has plateaued over the last 5 years and the incidence has decreased. Patients with AF have advanced mean age and a high burden of comorbidities. AF is associated with a modest increase in all-cause mortality, and its management represents 2% of the Catalan health budget.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Cardiology, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Benjamin Casteigt"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "CatSalut, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Emili Vela"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Cardiology, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain",
        "Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Ermengol Valles"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Cardiology, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain",
        "Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Carlos Eduardo González-Matos"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Cardiology, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain",
        "Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Jesus Jimenez Lopez"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Cardiology, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Pasquale Valerio Falzone"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Cardiology, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain",
        "Cardiology, Ospedale Fabrizio Spaziani, Frosinone, Frosinone, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "Gianluca Guelfand Crignola"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Cardiology, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Giulia Garosi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Cardiology, Bellvitge University Hospital, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Josep Comin-Colet"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Interventional Cardiology, HU Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Josepa Mauri"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Cardiology, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain",
        "Heart Diseases Biomedical Research Group, Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mediques, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Helena Tizón-Marcos"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Cardiology, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain",
        "CatSalut, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Miguel Cainzos-Achirica"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Epidemiology, economic burden and mortality of atrial fibrillation in a region with very high life expectancy: a contemporary, population-based analysis in Catalonia",
  "uid": "9dd4f482-2134-5847-8ca5-03e25011c57f"
}