Over three-quarters of deaths from cardiovascular disease and diabetes occur in low- and middle-income countries, which include many African countries. Global studies showed that the prevalence of the cardiac arrhythmia atrial fibrillation (AF) appeared to be lower in Africa. A systematic search of PubMed and African Journals Online was conducted to determine the prevalence of AF and associated stroke risk factors in Africa and to quantify the need for screening. The publications search yielded a total of 840 articles of which 41 were included. AF was often not identified as the disease of primary interest with its own risks. Data on prevalence in the general population was scarce. The prevalence of stroke risk factors showed a large variation between studies, as well as within clustered subpopulations. AF in Africa is under-reported in published reports. The study types and populations are highly heterogeneous, making it difficult to draw a definitive conclusion on AF prevalence.

Highlights

• AF is under-reported in published reports from the African region. The focus of published studies seems to be on AF as a risk factor in other comorbid diseases.
• AF is often not identified as the disease of primary interest with its own risks and complications.
• More attention needs to be paid to diagnosis and timely detection of AF in Africa. Systematic screening would be a good approach to determine the true prevalence of AF in the general population in Africa.