Table 1 Study and patient population characteristics

Total ED visits Jan 01 2008 - Dec 31 2008

75,500

57,300

63,000

195,800

Total visits with AF as 1° or 2° Dx

473

271

404

1,148

Patient characteristics (%)

N = 150

N = 151

N = 150

N = 451

Age

< 50

29 (19.3)

22 (14.6)

18 (12.0)

69 (15.3)

51-60

27 (18)

30 (19.9)

16 (10.7)

73 (16.2)

61-74

27 (18.0)

39 (25.8)

45 (30.0)

111 (24.6)

≥ 75

67 (44.7)

60 (39.7)

71 (47.3)

198 (43.9)

Gender

Male

89 (59.3)

98 (64.9)

72 (48.0)

259 (57.4)

Female

61 (40.7)

53 (35.1)

78 (52.0)

192 (42.6)

Type of AF

New onset

51 (34.0)

51 (33.8)

36 (24.2)

138 (30.7)

Paroxysmal

92 (61.3)

93 (61.6)

94 (63.1)

279 (62.0)

Persistent

7 (4.7)

6 (4.0)

9 (6.0)

22 (4.9)

Unknown

0 (0)

1 (0.7)

10 (6.7)

11 (2.4)

Duration of symptoms

< 48 h

91 (60.7)

93 (61.6)

100 (67.1)

284 (63.1)

48 h

56 (37.3)

51 (33.8)

33 (22.2)

140 (31.1)

Unknown

3 (2.0)

7 (4.6)

16 (10.7)

26 (5.8)

Past medical history

History of CHF or EF < 35%

40 (26.7)

30 (19.9)

10 (6.7)

80 (17.9)

HTN

91 (60.7)

80 (53.0)

98 (65.8)

269 (59.8)

CAD

49 (32.7)

31 (20.5)

43 (28.9)

123 (27.3)

DM

20 (13.3)

19 (12.7)

30 (20.1)

69 (15.4)

Previous stroke/TIA

21 (14.0)

23 (15.2)

28 (18.8)

72 (16.0)

Prosthetic heart valve

11 (7.3)

7 (4.6)

5 (3.4)

23 (5.1)

CHADS2 Score*

0

41 (23.7)

45 (29.8)

29 (19.3)

115 (25.5)

1

25 (16.7)

43 (28.5)

40 (26.7)

108 (23.9)

2

34 (22.7)

34 (22.5)

39 (26.0)

107 (23.7)

≥ 3

50 (33.3)

29 (19.2)

42 (28.0)

121 (26.8)