Atrial cardiopathy and stroke mortality in the general population

Prior studies examining the link between atrial cardiopathy and stroke risk have focused mainly on non-fatal stroke.

To examine the association between atrial cardiopathy and stroke mortality.

This analysis included 8028 participants (60.0 ± 13.4 years, 51.9% women, 49.8% white) from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES III) Survey. Atrial cardiopathy was defined as abnormal deep terminal negativity of the P wave in V1 (DTNPV1 = negative p-wave in V1<-100 µv), an electrocardiographic marker of atrial cardiopathy. Stroke mortality was ascertained using the National Death Index over a median follow-up of 14 years.

2.95% (n = 237) of the participants had atrial cardiopathy, and the prevalence was slightly higher in blacks (4%) versus whites (3%). During follow-up, stroke mortality was more common in those with (5.9%) than those without (2.7%) atrial cardiopathy; p = .004. In a multivariable adjusted model, atrial cardiopathy was associated with a 76% increased risk of stroke mortality (HR (95% CI): 1.76 (1.02-3.04)]. This association was stronger in non-whites than whites (HR (95% CI): 3.50 (1.74-7.03) vs. 0.98 (0.40-2.42), respectively; interaction p = 0.03). Among those with baseline atrial cardiopathy, the annualized stroke mortality rates/1000 participants across CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores of 0, 1, and ≥2 were 0.0, 2.2, and 7.8, respectively.

Atrial cardiopathy is associated with an increased risk of stroke mortality, especially among non-whites. Among those with atrial cardiopathy, the risk of stroke mortality exponentially increases as the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score becomes 2 or above. Randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the efficacy of anticoagulation in the prevention of ischemic stroke and thus, stroke mortality in the presence of atrial cardiopathy.