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Open Access 01-09-2017 | CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Atrial fibrillation in immigrant groups: a cohort study of all adults 45 years of age and older in Sweden

Authors: Per Wändell, Axel C. Carlsson, Xinjun Li, Danijela Gasevic, Johan Ärnlöv, Martin J. Holzmann, Jan Sundquist, Kristina Sundquist

Published in: European Journal of Epidemiology | Issue 9/2017

Abstract

To study the association between country of birth and incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in several immigrant groups in Sweden. The study population included all adults (n = 3,226,752) aged 45 years and older in Sweden. AF was defined as having at least one registered diagnosis of AF in the National Patient Register. The incidence of AF in different immigrant groups, using Swedish-born as referents, was assessed by Cox regression, expressed in hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). All models were stratified by sex and adjusted for age, geographical residence in Sweden, educational level, marital status, and neighbourhood socioeconomic status. Compared to their Swedish-born counterparts, higher incidence of AF [HR (95% CI)] was observed among men from Bosnia 1.74 (1.56–1.94) and Latvia 1.29 (1.09–1.54), and among women from Iraq 1.96 (1.67–2.31), Bosnia 1.88 (1.61–1.94), Finland 1.14 (1.11–1.17), Estonia 1.14 (1.05–1.24) and Germany 1.08 (1.03–1.14). Lower incidence of AF was noted among men (HRs ≤ 0.60) from Iceland, Southern Europe (especially Greece, Italy and Spain), Latin America (especially Chile), Africa, Asia (including Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon and Iran), and among women from Nordic countries (except Finland), Southern Europe, Western Europe (except Germany), Africa, North America, Latin America, Iran, Lebanon and other Asian countries (except Turkey and Iraq). In conclusion, we observed substantial differences in incidence of AF between immigrant groups and the Swedish-born population. A greater awareness of the increased risk of AF development in some immigrant groups may enable for a timely diagnosis, treatment and prevention of its debilitating complications, such as stroke.

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Title: Atrial fibrillation in immigrant groups: a cohort study of all adults 45 years of age and older in Sweden
Authors: Per Wändell
Axel C. Carlsson
Xinjun Li
Danijela Gasevic
Johan Ärnlöv
Martin J. Holzmann
Jan Sundquist
Kristina Sundquist
Publication date: 01-09-2017
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: European Journal of Epidemiology / Issue 9/2017
Print ISSN: 0393-2990
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7284
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-017-0283-6

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Atrial fibrillation in immigrant groups: a cohort study of all adults 45 years of age and older in Sweden

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