The changing epidemiology of non-valvular atrial fibrillation: the role of novel risk factors

The growing ‘epidemic’ of atrial fibrillation (AF), with its associated morbidity and mortality, intersects with a number of risk factors including ageing and other conditions including thromboembolism, stroke, congestive heart failure, hypertension, and also perhaps metabolic syndrome and systemic inflammation. Currently in the USA, ∼2.3 million people are diagnosed with AF and, on the basis of the US census, this number is expected to rise to...