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A remarkably low rate of anticoagulant use has been documented in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (AF). This British study was designed to determine the prevalence of AF in the general population and estimate the proportion of AF patients who might benefit from anticoaglulation. A random sample of 4,843 individuals (aged 65 or older) from a single community was screened. They were evaluated for stroke risk factors (e.g., history of stroke, transient ischemic attack, hypertension, or diabetes) and contraindication to anticoagulation.
AF was detected in 288 (4.7 percent) of participants. Among those older than 75 years, the incidence was 10 percent in men and 5.6 percent in women. The most common contraindications to anticoagulant us…