The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is high and increases exponentially with age, from 0.7% in the age group 55-60 years, to 17.8% in those aged 85 years and older. 1 The number of AF patients is estimated to increase 2.5 fold during the next 50 years. 2;3 The hospitalization rate for AF is increasing 4 and AF patients have an excess mortality.
5To plan health services for old people with AF, data are needed not only on the prevalence of AF,
AbstractBackground: The impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) on quality of life (QoL) differs with the AF population studied and is influenced by comorbidity. In hospital-based studies younger and highly symptomatic patients may be overrepresented. We performed an observational cross sectional study in two municipalities, comparing 75 year-old patients with and without permanent atrial fibrillation, with respect to health-related QoL and exercise capacity, with adjustment for the effects of confounders.