How do aging and comorbidities impact risk of ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation

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Jo-Nan Liao1, Tze-Fan Chao1, Shih-Ann Chen1

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, and Cardiovascular Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine
|November 18, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Stroke risk in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients is complex. This review details stroke risk factors, focusing on the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score components and other potential risks for better prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Geriatrics

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) significantly increases stroke risk.
  • Effective stroke prevention in AF requires accurate risk stratification.
  • Age and comorbidities are key determinants of AF-related stroke risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively review stroke risk factors in AF patients.
  • To focus on the components of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score.
  • To discuss other potential risk factors beyond the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on stroke risk in AF.
  • Analysis of factors contributing to the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score.
  • Exploration of additional identified stroke risk factors.

Main Results:

  • The CHA₂DS₂-VASc score effectively stratifies stroke risk in AF.
  • Increasing age and specific comorbidities significantly elevate stroke risk.
  • Other factors may also contribute to stroke risk in AF patients.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding and stratifying stroke risk factors in AF is crucial for prevention.
  • The CHA₂DS₂-VASc score is a vital tool, but other factors warrant consideration.
  • Comprehensive risk assessment aids in tailoring stroke prevention strategies for AF patients.

Keywords:
Atrial fibrillationRisk factorsStroke

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