Time trends in incidence rates of atrial fibrillation-related strokes in Norway 2001–2014: a nationwide analysis using data from the cardiovascular disease in Norway (CVDNOR) project
Authors: Ariansen I , Igland J , Anjum M , Kjerpeseth L.J , Selmer R , Ellekjaer H , Kalstoe S , Christophersen I , Myrstad M , Ihle-Hansen H , Tveit A , Mortensen L.H , Tell G.S , Berge T 
Published: November 2020

Background

Stroke incidence rates declined in Norway during 2001 to 2014. Atrial fibrillation (AF) incidence rates were stable in the same period.

Purpose

We aimed to study time trends in incidence (first time) of acute stroke hospitalizations and stroke deaths associated with AF in Norway in the period 2001–2014.

Methods

Nationwide hospital discharge diagnoses in the Cardiovascular Disease in Norway (CVDNOR) database and in the National Patient Registry were linked to the National Cause of Death Registry. All hospitalizations with acute stroke (including ischemic stroke, intracerebral bleeding and unspecified stroke) and out-of-hospital deaths with stroke as underlying cause in individuals 25 years and older were obtained during 1994–2014. Incident stroke was defined as the first hospitalization or out-of-hospital death due to stroke with no hospitalization for acute stroke or stroke sequela the past 7 years. Stroke was defined as AF-related if AF was registered during a hospitalization the past 7 years, or as underlying or contributing cause of death up to 28 days after the stroke hospitalization. Age-standardized incidence rates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using direct standardization to the age-distribution in the Norwegian population per 2001. Age-adjusted average yearly incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% CIs were estimated by negative binomial regression analyses.

Results

From 2001 to 2014 we identified 157 580 incident stroke cases of which 38 317 were AF-related. The proportion of incident strokes that were related to AF increased from 20.6% in 2001 to 26.3% in 2014. Age-standardized incidence rates of AF-related strokes per 100,000 person years were stable at 88 (85, 92) in 2001 and 79 (76, 83) in 2014, corresponding to a 0% average yearly change, IRR 1.00 (0.99, 1.00). The age-standardized incidence rates of non-AF-related strokes per 100,000 person years decreased from 334 (328, 341) in 2001 to 214 (209, 219) in 2014, corresponding to a 3% average yearly decrease, IRR 0.97 (0.97, 0.97).

Conclusion

The favourable trend in total stroke incidence rates from 2001 to 2014 does not include AF-related strokes. This may suggest that AF has become accountable for a higher proportion of incident strokes or that AF detection improved over this period.

Figure 1. Age-standardized incidence rates of stroke hospitalizations or out-of-hospital deaths per 100,000 person years (py) by year, illustrated as all strokes (blue horizontal line) and AF-related strokes (red horizontal line/height of red area). The height of the blue area illustrates the rate for non-AF related strokes.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Vestre Viken Hospital Trust (public hospital research fund)