Tag Archives: incidence

Introduction Infective endocarditis (IE) is a relatively rare disease; however, it is becoming increasingly common and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality.1 A recent meta-analysis has revealed that the epidemiology of IE has evolved over the last five decades,2 with significant global variation. Several large epidemiological studies show that the incidence of IE is increasing, particularly in male and elderly patients.3-5 There have also been changes in the microbiology of IE with staphylococci overtaking streptococci as the most frequent causative organism.6 There are few recent studies describing the incidence or epidemio

Introduction Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a supraventricular tachyarrhythmia characterised by uncoordinated activation of the atria. AF is a progressive disease and represents the most common serious disorder of cardiac rhythm. The incidence and prevalence of the disease increase progressively with age and is more common among men.1–5 AF is associated with higher mortality and cardiovascular (CV) morbidity.6–13 Specifically, AF is a recognised risk factor for stroke, with the proportion of strokes attributable to AF increasing exponentially with age.1,2,7,14–17 Although clinicians are most concerned about stroke risk among AF patients, c