Who is affected by atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of persistent irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).¹

More than 2 million people in the United States have atrial fibrillation.
The number of people with this condition increases sharply with age and is most common in people older than age 60.
Atrial fibrillation affects men slightly more often than it affects women.

References

Citations

Olgin JE, Zipes DP (2008). Atrial fibrillation section of Specific arrhythmias: Diagnosis and treatment. In P Libby et al., eds., Braunwald's Heart Disease, 8th ed., pp. 869–873. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.

Credits

Author	Robin Parks, MS
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	John M. Miller, MD - Electrophysiology
Last Updated	December 18, 2008