Assessment of the manifestations of atrial fibrillation in patients with acute cerebral stroke – a single-center study based on 998 patients

ABSTRACT

Aim of the Study: Cardioembolic stroke accounts for approximately 15-25% of ischemic strokes and is characterized by a poor prognosis. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is more commonly diagnosed in the elderly.The aim of the study was the assessment of the manifestations of AF in patients hospitalized due to cerebral stroke, with particular attention paid to newly diagnosed AF.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 998 cerebral stroke patients. The data were analyzed for sex, age, cerebral stroke risk factors, drugs, NIHSS, RANKIN scores and ECG recordings on admission and at discharge.

Results: The mean age of disease onset was 73 ± 16 years. Women accounted for 50.8% of patients. AF prior to hospital admission was diagnosed in 20.1% of patients, while de novo AF in 26.3% of patients during hospitalization. Hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and smoking were more commonly reported in ischemic stroke patients without AF compared to patients with ischemic stroke and AF. Ischemic heart disease, more frequent deaths, and a worse prognosis were more frequently observed in patients with ischemic stroke and AF compared to patients without AF. The first manifestation of AF in 25% of stroke patients was related to the period of the first 10 days of hospitalization.

Discussion: The above data should prompt neurologists, cardiologists and family doctors to try to detect AF as a risk factor for ischemic stroke which worsens patient prognosis, prolongs hospital stay and contributes to increase in mortality, especially when more effective drug treatment is currently possible.

KEYWORDS:

• Ischemic stroke
• atrial fibrillation
• risk factors
• prognosis
• prevalence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paweł Warmus

Paweł Warmus neurologist, M.D, Department of Neurology in Zabrze (since 2017), Department of Neurology in Bytom from 2013 to 2017, graduation from the Medical University of Silesia in 2011.

Natalia Niedziela

Natalia Niedziela- neurologist, Ph.D, Department of Neurology in Zabrze (since 2011), graduation from the Medical University of Silesia in 2010.

Maciej Huć

Maciej Huć - neurologist, Ph.D, Department of Neurology in Cieszyn(since 2017), graduation from the Medical University of Silesia.

Krzysztof Wierzbicki

Krzysztof Wierzbicki – neurologist, Ph.D, Department of Neurology in Zabrze (since 2017), Department of Neurology in Cieszyn 2005–2017, graduation from the Medical University of Silesia in 2004.

Monika Adamczyk-Sowa

Monika Adamczyk-Sowa- neurologist, MD PhD, Assist. Prof., Head of the Department of Neurology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, graduation from the Medical Universityof Silesia in 2002.