{"id":"46058","type":"article","url":"https://hartvaat.nl/2026/04/17/atriumfibrilleren-in-catalonie-prevalentie-gestabiliseerd-incidentie-gedaald-2-v/","title":"Atriumfibrilleren in Catalonië: prevalentie gestabiliseerd, incidentie gedaald, 2% van het zorgbudget","title_en":"Epidemiology, economic burden and mortality of atrial fibrillation in a region with very high life expectancy: a contemporary, population-based analysis in Catalonia.","category":"atriumfibrilleren","category_label":"Atriumfibrilleren","professions":["cardioloog","huisarts"],"tags":[],"journal":"Open heart","doi":"10.1136/openhrt-2026-004007","source_url":"https://doi.org/10.1136/openhrt-2026-004007","authors":["Benjamin Casteigt","Emili Vela","Ermengol Valles","Carlos Eduardo González-Matos","Jesus Jimenez Lopez","Pasquale Valerio Falzone","Gianluca Guelfand Crignola","Giulia Garosi","Josep Comin-Colet","Josepa Mauri","Helena Tizón-Marcos","Miguel Cainzos-Achirica"],"significance":6,"published":"2026-07-19","source_date":"2026-04-17","image":"https://hartvaat.nl/global/img/27c554ca82e8.webp","kennis":["https://hartvaat.nl/kennis/atriumfibrilleren/wat-is-atriumfibrilleren/","https://hartvaat.nl/kennis/atriumfibrilleren/af-en-hartfalen/"],"congress":"","summary_en":"The high prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a public-health challenge, especially in ageing societies. This retrospective population-based study used the Catalan public health system database (8 million people, 2019-2023). Age-standardised AF prevalence remained stable at 2.5%, while incidence fell slightly (from 3.8 to 3.6 per 1,000). The 2023 AF population had a median age of 77.6 years and a high comorbidity burden: heart failure (37.6%), obesity (33.8%) and coronary disease (26.7%). Low socioeconomic status was associated with higher AF prevalence. AF was modestly associated with all-cause mortality (OR 1.25), and its healthcare costs were estimated at 2% of the annual Catalan health budget. In a high-life-expectancy region, AF prevalence thus appears to be plateauing, with a high disease burden and substantial economic impact.","created":"2026-07-03T20:27:11Z","updated":"2026-07-04T19:26:57Z","licence":"Citeer vrij, met bronvermelding en een link naar hartvaat.nl (de url van het record). Samenvattingen zijn redactioneel werk van HartVaat; de oorspronkelijke publicaties blijven van hun uitgevers (doi). Geen medisch advies.","body_markdown":"De hoge prevalentie van atriumfibrilleren (AF) vormt een uitdaging voor de volksgezondheid, vooral in vergrijzende samenlevingen. Deze retrospectieve populatiestudie gebruikte de database van het Catalaanse publieke zorgstelsel (8 miljoen mensen, 2019-2023). De voor leeftijd gecorrigeerde AF-prevalentie bleef stabiel op 2,5%, terwijl de incidentie licht daalde (van 3,8 naar 3,6 per 1.000). De AF-populatie in 2023 had een mediane leeftijd van 77,6 jaar en veel comorbiditeit: hartfalen (37,6%), obesitas (33,8%) en coronairlijden (26,7%). Een lage sociaaleconomische status ging gepaard met een hogere AF-prevalentie. AF was matig geassocieerd met de totale sterfte (OR 1,25), en de bijbehorende zorgkosten werden geschat op 2% van het jaarlijkse Catalaanse zorgbudget. In een regio met hoge levensverwachting lijkt de AF-prevalentie dus een plateau te bereiken, met een hoge ziektelast en aanzienlijke economische impact.","abstract_original":"BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and its association with cardiovascular (CV) outcomes represent a challenge for public health systems, particularly in ageing societies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to conduct a thorough epidemiological analysis of AF in Catalonia, a region with high life expectancy, from prevalence and incidence to mortality and associated healthcare resource use. METHODS: This retrospective population-based study used the database of the Catalan public health system, including 8 million people. AF prevalence, incidence and mortality were assessed from 2019 to 2023. Comorbidities and healthcare resource expenditure in prevalent AF cases were assessed for the year 2023. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, income and comorbidities. RESULTS: During the 5-year study period, the age-standardised prevalence of AF remained stable (2.5%), while incidence decreased, from 3.8‰ to 3.6‰. In 2023, the AF population had a median age of 77.6 years and had a high burden of comorbidities including heart failure (37.6%), obesity (33.8%) and coronary heart disease (26.7%). Low socioeconomic status was associated with higher AF prevalence. There was a modest association between AF and all-cause mortality (OR 1.25). The healthcare resource use associated with AF was estimated to account for 2% of the annual Catalan health budget. CONCLUSIONS: In Catalonia, AF prevalence has plateaued over the last 5 years and the incidence has decreased. Patients with AF have advanced mean age and a high burden of comorbidities. AF is associated with a modest increase in all-cause mortality, and its management represents 2% of the Catalan health budget."}