Role of hospitalists in the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation for the management of cryptogenic stroke patients

ABSTRACT

Cryptogenic strokes are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Identifying the underlying cause of cryptogenic stroke is imperative for appropriate short and long-term management of these patients. In particular, detecting atrial fibrillation in cryptogenic stroke patients may shed insight into the cause of the index stroke, but is also important to identify an important cause of secondary stroke. There is accumulating evidence indicating that monitoring for durations beyond the guideline recommended 30 day-period results in greater atrial fibrillation yield. This article reviews current guidelines and practices for the diagnosis of cryptogenic stroke, as well as outpatient cardiac monitoring options available, and focuses on the role that hospitalists have to play in the care of these patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Hospitalists
• cryptogenic stroke
• atrial fibrillation
• secondary stroke prevention
• cardiac monitoring

Acknowledgments

Medtronic personnel provided technical review and copy-editing assistance for this manuscript.

Declaration of interest

A Amin is a consultant for Medtronic. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

Editorial support for this article was funded by Medtronic.