OBJECTIVES: Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a highly debilitating condition with significant economic burden. Previous studies have estimated the cost of hospitalisations associated with AF. This study seeks to estimate prescribing, inpatient, outpatient and social care costs associated with AF in a Scottish cohort, by using individual-level linked data. METHODS: A cohort of 50 years and older patients, hospitalised with a known diagnosis of AF or atrial flutter between 1997 and 2014, was followed up for five years following the first AF event. Individual-level data on hospitalisation and discharge to social care home were obtained from the Scottish Morbidity Records (SMR01); these were linked to outpatient data (SMR00) and prescribing data (Scottish Prescribing Information System; PIS). Hospital and outpatient costs were estimated utilising the Scottish National Tariff, Social care and prescription costs were identified from the Care Home Census and PIS respectively. An econometric analysis was carried out using a two-part model adjusted for demographic characteristics, socio-economic status, year of admission and location. RESULTS: Overall, a cohort of 253,963 AF patients accounted for 2,988,607 hospital admissions and 4,452,476 outpatient attendances. The mean cost per patient was estimated to be £3,871 (95% CI 3,852 - 3,890). Overall, hospital admissions and outpatient visits accounted for 76.6% and 5.4% of the total cost, respectively; social care and prescriptions accounted for 13.6% and 3.9% of the total costs. Patients ≥90 years incurred significantly lower costs than those in younger age groups. For these patients, a significant reduction of hospital costs alongside an increase in social care costs was observed. CONCLUSIONS:  This study has shown the importance of taking into account healthcare resource use incurred beyond hospitalisation.