Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2025
Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
UNRAVELLING ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AETIOLOGY AND ANTICOAGULATION TRENDS IN STROKE. WHERE DO WE STAND? A STUDY FROM
Farhat Naz1, Saqib Malik1, Khazima Asif1
1Department of Medicine, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad-Pakistan.
Insights
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a common cause of stroke. Identifying and managing risk factors like heart disease, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and respiratory issues is crucial for stroke prevention through primary prevention and anticoagulation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent cardiac arrhythmia linked to increased stroke risk.
- Numerous modifiable risk factors contribute to AF, highlighting opportunities for primary prevention.
- Early identification of AF and its associated risk factors is essential for effective stroke prevention strategies, including anticoagulation therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) among stroke patients.
- To identify significant risk factors associated with AF in this population.
- To assess the prior anticoagulation status of patients diagnosed with AF.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 160 stroke patients.
- Data collected included patient demographics, stroke type, AF diagnosis, and presence of various risk factors.
- Statistical analysis, including Chi-square tests, was employed to correlate risk factors with AF.
Main Results:
- Atrial Fibrillation (AF) was identified in 32 (20%) of the 160 stroke patients.
- Hypertension (85%), ischemic heart disease (32.5%), hyperlipidemia (23.1%), and smoking (11.9%) were common risk factors.
- Only 25% of patients with AF had received prior anticoagulation therapy.
Conclusions:
- Ischemic heart disease, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and chronic respiratory disease are significantly associated with Atrial Fibrillation (AF) in stroke patients.
- These identified risk factors are modifiable, underscoring the importance of primary prevention strategies.
- Emphasis on prophylactic anticoagulation is recommended for patients with AF to mitigate stroke risk.
Background:
Atrial Fibrillation is a heart arrhythmia causing stroke and associated with many modifiable risk factors. A number of strokes can be prevented by identifying these risk factors and adopting primary prevention and anticoagulation.
Methods:
This Cross-Sectional observational study on 160 stroke patients; identified frequency and risk factors of Atrial Fibrillation and their prior anticoagulation status. Correlation of risk factors associated with Atrial Fibrillation in stroke was done through Chi Square test.
Results:
Among 160 patients, 72 (45%) were males and 88 (55%) females. Mean age was 64.29±13.44SD with range of 31-92 years. Among patients, 113 (70.6%) had ischemic stroke, and 32(20%) had Atrial Fibrillation. Among risk factors, 136(85%) had hypertension, 37(23.1%) had diabetes, 52(32.5%) had ischemic heart disease, 27(16.9%) had valvular heart disease, 9 (5.6%) had hyperthyroidism, 37 (23.1%) had hyperlipidemia, 17(10.6%) had chronic respiratory disease, 19 (11.9%) were smokers, 61(38.1%) had family history of stroke, 12(7.5%) were obese. Only 8 of 32 with AF (25%) had prior anticoagulation. Correlation analysis of risk factors show ischemic heart disease (p=.000285), rheumatic heart disease (p=.000061), hyperlipidemia (p=.0004), chronic respiratory disease (p=.003175) and smoking (p=.00148) as significantly associated with Atrial Fibrillation.
Conclusions:
Ischemic heart disease, hyperlipidemia, smoking and respiratory disease are significant risk factors for stroke in non-valvular atrial fibrillation. All these factors are modifiable so primary prevention and prophylactic anticoagulation should be emphasized.
