Prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the Portuguese population aged 40 and over: the FAMA study.

Abstract

AF prevalence in the Portuguese population aged 40 and over is relatively high compared to studies carried out in other countries. As AF is a common arrhythmia and is a risk factor for stroke, it is essential to promote prevention strategies. It is important to control hypertension, reduce obesity, and establish screening programs in order to maximize the number of identified cases and optimize those patients' treatment, particularly in preventing the associated thromboembolic risk.