INCIDENCE OF ATRIAL-FIBRILLATION AND ATRI AL-FLUTTER AND RESULTS OF TREATMENT IN A GENERAL-HOSPITAL

158 patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter were found among 2774 patients admitted during a 12-month period in 1983/84 to a department of internal medicine of a general hospital in the western part of Ham burg. These rhythm disturbances occurred more frequently in males and elderly patients. Symptoms and underlying diseases are being described , only few cases of rheumatic heart disease were found. The hospital m ortality was especially high in males, due to the multimorbidity of th e patients in general. 40% of the surviving patients were discharged i n sinus rhythm. Regularisation usually succeeded by treatment with dig italis and quinidine. 8 years later, 40% of the male and 55% of the fe male patients were still in sinus rhythm.