: The incidence and prevalence of AF have increased in recent years , although great variability still exists in Asian countries .
Variability in annual IS risk in patients with AF was apparent between hospital‐ and community‐based studies .
BACKGROUND : Our previous review reported great variability in the incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation ( AF ) in non‐Western cohorts , especially from Asian countries ; in recent years , epidemiologic studies on AF have been increasingly reported from Asia .
METHODS : The goal of this up date d systematic review was to present the current knowledge base of AF epidemiology in Asian countries since our previous review .
Morphological abnormalities in baseline ECGs in healthy normal volunteers participating in phase I studies
Background & objectives : Morphological abnormalities in  12-lead electrocardiograms ( ECGs ) are seen in subgroups of healthy individuals like athletes and air-force personnel . As these population s may not truly represent healthy individuals , we assessed morphological abnormalities in ECG in healthy volunteers participating in phase I studies , who are screened to exclude associated conditions . Methods : ECGs from 62 phase I studies analyzed in a central ECG laboratory were pooled . A single drug-free baseline ECG from each subject was review ed by experienced cardiologists .  ECG intervals  were measured on five consecutive beats and morphological abnormalities identified using st and ard guidelines . Results : Morphological abnormalities were detected in 25.5 per cent of 3978 healthy volunteers ( 2495 males , 1483 females ; aged 18 - 76 yr ) ; the presence was higher in males ( 29.3 % vs. 19.2 % in females ; P<0.001 ) . Rhythm abnormalities were the commonest ( 11.5 % ) followed by conduction abnormalities ( 5.9 % ) , axis deviation ( 4 % ) , ST-T wave changes ( 3.1 % ) and chamber enlargement ( 1.4 % ) . Incomplete right bundle branch block ( RBBB ) , short PR interval and right ventricular hypertrophy were common in young subjects ( < 20 yr ) while atrial fibrillation , first degree atrioventricular block , complete RBBB and left anterior fascicular block were more prevalent in elderly subjects ( > 65 yr ) . Prolonged PR interval , RBBB and intraventricular conduction defects were more common in males while sinus tachycardia , short PR interval and non-specific T wave changes were more frequent in females . Interpretation & Conclusions : Morphological abnormalities in ECG are commonly seen in healthy volunteers participating in phase I studies ; and vary with age and gender . Further studies are required to determine whether these abnormalities persist or if some of these disappear on follow up
: The incidence and prevalence of AF have increased in recent years , although great variability still exists in Asian countries .
Variability in annual IS risk in patients with AF was apparent between hospital‐ and community‐based studies .
BACKGROUND : Our previous review reported great variability in the incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation ( AF ) in non‐Western cohorts , especially from Asian countries ; in recent years , epidemiologic studies on AF have been increasingly reported from Asia .
METHODS : The goal of this up date d systematic review was to present the current knowledge base of AF epidemiology in Asian countries since our previous review .