抄録
1. In an 8-year follow-up of an adult population of 14, 900 persons, age 20 and over who undergo periodic medical examination biennially, atrial fibrillation (AF) was found in 80 cases. The prevalence, with both sexes combined, was 0.5%, and approximately 3.4 times higher in males than in females. The peak prevalence in males was 2.6% in the 60-69 age group, while in females it was 1.7% in the 70+ age group. 2. Onset of AF was seen during the period of observation in 45 cases. Incidence was the highest in males of the 60-69 age group, being 55 cases per 10, 000 population per year. 3. Main associated disease was hypertensive heart disease (HHD) in 42.4%, ischemic heart disease (IHD) in 23.8%, mitral valvular disease (MVD) in 23.8%, thyrotoxic in 3.8%, and unknown in 6.2%. 4. Age of onset was 48.7 years among cases with MVD, 65.2 years among cases with HHD, and 66.8 years for cases with IHD. 5. Prediction of occurrence of AF was attempted using as controls non-AF cases matched by sex, age, and disease with the 43 cases that had developed AF during the period of observation. It was found that the overall estimate of the severity of disturbance of cardiac function is an important factor and that premature atrial contraction has the highest predictive value among
