Current concepts and management of atrial fibrillation： the American perspective

Atrial fibrillation （AF） is the most common sustained .cardiac arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice.Its prevalence increases with age, ranging from less than l% of persons younger than 50 years to nearly 10% of those older than 80 years.1＇2 In view of the rapidly aging US population, as well as the increase in the age-adjusted incidence olAF,3 this sustained arrhythmia is fast becoming a disease of epidemic proportions. It is projected that more than 5.6 million Americans will have AF by the year 2050, with more than half of affected individuals aged 80 years and older.2 The cost of treating AF in the US, including the 350 000 hospitalizations, 5 million office visits,