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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Strikingly low prevalence of atrial fibrillation in elderly Tanzanians
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Volume 60, No. 6, Year 2012
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Description
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in individuals aged 70 and older in a rural African community. DESIGN: Community-based cross-sectional survey. SETTING: A demographic surveillance site (DSS) within the rural Hai district of northern Tanzania. PARTICIPANTS: Approximately one-quarter (N = 2,232) of the population aged 70 and older of the DSS. MEASUREMENTS: Participants were screened for AF using 12-lead electrocardiography; demographic and 1- year mortality data were collected; and functional status, body mass index, and blood pressure were recorded. The sex-specific prevalence of AF in each 5-year age band was determined. RESULTS: Fifteen of 2,232 participants (12 women, 3 men) had AF, giving a crude prevalence rate of 0.67% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.33-1.01) and an age-adjusted prevalence of 0.64% (95% CI = 0.31-0.97). Prevalence was 0.96% (95% CI = 0.42-1.49) in women and 0.31% (95% CI = -0.04 to 1.24) in men. Prevalence increased with age, from 0.46% (95% CI = 0.01-0.90) in those aged 70-74-1.30% (95% CI = 0.17-2.42) in those aged 85 and older. One-year mortality was 50% in women and 66.6% in men. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first published community-based AF prevalence study from sub-Saharan Africa. The prevalence rate of AF is strikingly lower than in other elderly populations studied, yet the 1-year mortality rate was exceedingly high. © 2012, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2012, The American Geriatrics Society.
Authors & Co-Authors
Dewhurst, Matthew J.
United Kingdom, North Shields
North Tyneside General Hospital
United Kingdom, Newcastle
University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Faculty of Medical Sciences
Adams, Phillip C.
United Kingdom, Newcastle
Royal Victoria Infirmary
Gray, William Keith
United Kingdom, North Shields
North Tyneside General Hospital
Dewhurst, Felicity
United Kingdom, North Shields
North Tyneside General Hospital
United Kingdom, Newcastle
University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Faculty of Medical Sciences
Orega, Golda
Tanzania, Moshi
Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre
Chaote, Paul
Tanzania, Kilimanjaro
Hai District Hospital
Walker, Richard William
United Kingdom, North Shields
North Tyneside General Hospital
United Kingdom, Newcastle
University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Faculty of Medical Sciences
Statistics
Citations: 35
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.03963.x
ISSN:
00028614
e-ISSN:
15325415
Research Areas
Noncommunicable Diseases
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Tanzania
Participants Gender
Male
Female