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Mitral annular calcification and its severity predict high risk for cardio-embolic stroke in elderly patients with

Fatih Oksuz1, Mikail Yarlioglues1, Mustafa Duran1

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

Acta Cardiologica
|November 20, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) thickness predicts cardio-embolic stroke in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Increased MAC severity is an independent risk factor for stroke in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Geriatrics
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent arrhythmia, particularly in individuals over 75.
  • Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is common in the elderly and linked to AF and stroke risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if MAC presence and severity predict cardio-embolic stroke in elderly patients newly diagnosed with AF.
  • To evaluate MAC as a potential independent predictor of stroke in this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 72 elderly patients with first-diagnosed AF and stroke, and 79 controls with first-diagnosed AF without stroke.
  • Mitral annular calcification (MAC) severity was measured using parasternal short-axis view, quantifying thickness from anterior to posterior edges.

Main Results:

  • Patients with cardio-embolic stroke exhibited significantly higher MAC thicknesses.
  • A MAC thickness cutoff of 2.5 mm showed 68.1% sensitivity and 77.2% specificity for detecting stroke.
  • MAC thickness was an independent predictor of cardio-embolic stroke in elderly AF patients (OR = 1.173, p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • MAC thickness is a valuable indicator for risk assessment in elderly patients with AF.
  • The presence and severity of MAC may predict cardio-embolic stroke independently of traditional risk factors.
Abstract

Keywords:
Atrial fibrillationcardio-embolic strokemitral annular calcification

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