Abstract 4356396: Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in the United States population: A cross-sectional analysis of the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 2022

Abstract

Background: Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), defined by episodic and self-limiting arrhythmias, is associated with increased risks of stroke and cardiovascular events. Despite these risks, PAF often goes underdiagnosed in ambulatory care, where early detection and management could mitigate adverse outcomes. Understanding the demographic patterns of PAF-related visits may inform more equitable care delivery. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using the 2022 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey – Health Center Component data. The dataset included 172,370 ambulatory visits, weighted to represent approximately 109 million visits nationally. PAF-related visits were identified using ICD-10 codes, and sociodemographic variables—age, sex, race/ethnicity, and marital status—were analyzed to assess disparities in visit patterns. Results: Among the sampled visits, 344 were PAF-related, translating to approximately 2 visits per 1000 ambulatory encounters. Age was a significant determinant: 74.4% (95% CI: 69.0%–79.1%) of PAF-related visits occurred in individuals aged ≥65 years, compared to 23.2% (95% CI: 18.6%–28.4%) among those aged 45–64 and 2.5% (95% CI: 1.2%–5.1%) in the 18–44 age group. No statistically significant sex differences were observed—men accounted for 51.5% (95% CI: 45.7%–57.2%) and women 48.5% (95% CI: 42.7%–54.3%) of visits. By race/ethnicity, White individuals represented 62.3% (95% CI: 56.5%–67.7%) of visits, followed by Hispanic (17.8%; 95% CI: 13.8%–22.7%) and Black patients (12.4%; 95% CI: 9.2%–16.4%). Marital status also showed variation: 49.0% (95% CI: 43.2%–54.7%) of visits involved married/domestic partners, while 23.5% (95% CI: 19.1%–28.5%) were from divorced, separated, or widowed individuals, and 22.4% (95% CI: 17.9%–27.6%) from single/unmarried patients. Conclusion: This nationally representative analysis reveals that PAF-related ambulatory care visits are disproportionately higher among older adults and married individuals, with notable racial and ethnic distribution patterns. These findings highlight the importance of demographic-tailored screening and management strategies in ambulatory settings to improve early detection and equitable treatment of PAF.