Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): INTRODUCTION: Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) and Flutter ranks as the fifth leading cause of death among all cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Given the scarcity of consistent previous estimates, this study is the first to assess the burden of Afib and Flutter in the European Union (EU) over the past three decades, including the initial two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS: Using global burden of disease study 2021 meta tool, we estimated prevalence, incidence, deaths, disability adjusted life years (DALYs), years lived with disability (YLDs) due to Afib and Flutter by age, sex, year and location across the 27 EU countries from 1990-2021.
RESULTS: The total number of prevalence rose from 5 million (95% uncertainty interval: 3.9-6.4 million) in 1990 to 8.6 million (7.2-10.3 million) in 2021. The total percentage of change (TPC) in deaths increased by 130% (110%-143%), and YLDs by 69% (56%-84%) from 1990-2021. Austria saw the highest increase in age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) at 83%, followed by Czechia at 50%. Sweden experienced the largest rise in mortality rates (ASMR) at 93%, with Estonia at 35%, and in YLD rates (ASYLDR), Austria led with a 90% increase followed by Sweden at 49%. In terms of age, individuals aged 55 and older recorded the highest death toll at 70,269 (57,793-77,019) and the highest incidence at 607,960 (397,686-868,122) in 2021. Regarding gender, males showed an increased TPC in overall burden compared to females, with males observing an increase and females a decreasing trend in ASIR (5% vs -7%), ASMR (7% vs -4%), and ASYLDR (7% vs -5%) from 1990-2021.
CONCLUSION: Deaths due to Afib and Flutter accounted for 4.26% of all CVD in EU. The escalating prevalence and mortality rates of Afib and Flutter across the EU highlight an urgent need for comprehensive healthcare strategies. Effective management should focus on bolstering preventive measures, advancing diagnostic techniques, and enhancing patient care frameworks, particularly for the aging demographic most at risk. Strategic collaboration across sectors, including innovative public health initiatives and policy reinforcement, is essential to curb this growing trend and safeguard public health.