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Is there a temporal relationship between atrial fibrillation and stroke? A review

Jessica Dlima1,2, Rooj Kitisarn3, Han Lim1,4

  • 1The University of Melbourne-Parkville Campus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

BMJ Neurology Open
|January 30, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is linked to ischemic stroke, but the exact timing is unclear. Inconsistent study methods and lack of anticoagulation control obscure the relationship between AF episodes and stroke risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a known risk factor for ischemic stroke.
  • Continuous cardiac monitoring detects brief, asymptomatic AF episodes, increasing research interest.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current literature on the temporal relationship between AF episodes and ischemic stroke.
  • To identify limitations in existing studies and recommend future research directions.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic literature search was conducted, yielding 727 studies.
  • Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria for analysis.

Main Results:

  • Four studies indicated a strong temporal association between AF and stroke.
  • Seven studies suggested a weak relationship.
  • Inconsistencies in stroke verification, event rates, power, and anticoagulation control were noted across studies.

Conclusions:

  • The temporal relationship between AF episodes and ischemic stroke remains unclear.
  • Methodological variations, particularly the lack of anticoagulation control and inconsistent stroke subtyping, limit current understanding.
  • Future studies need standardized methodologies to accurately assess this relationship.
Abstract

Keywords:
CARDIOLOGYSTROKE

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