Temporal Trend Analysis of Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter Disease Burden in High-Income Countries Between 1990 and 2021

Although the AF/AFL disease burden has declined in more than half of the high-income EU15+ countries, there are significant differences in trend changes between countries. This decline may be due to advances in treatment, such as newer anticoagulation therapies, radiofrequency ablation techniques, and the use of novel cardioverter drugs. Trend changes with unique characteristics may be related to the healthcare system of each country, socioeconomic factors, and the promotion of health education. This study also identified gender differences, with older women at greater risk of developing AF/AFL, implying that the older female population faces the need for enhanced risk assessment and management.