Stroke risk in an elderly population with atrial fibrillation

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W M Feinberg1, R A Kronmal, A B Newman

  • 1Department of Neurology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, USA.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
|January 20, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Elderly patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) have a stroke risk, but many are low risk. Further research is needed to accurately stratify stroke risk in AF patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Geriatrics

Background:

  • Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) significantly increases stroke risk.
  • Stroke risk in AF patients varies based on coexisting vascular conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate stroke rates in elderly nonvalvular AF patients.
  • To assess the predictive accuracy of existing stroke risk stratification schemes in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A population-derived cohort of 259 elderly individuals with nonvalvular AF was followed for a median of 5.3 years.
  • Stroke incidence and the performance of two risk stratification tools were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • The overall ischemic stroke rate was 2.8% per year.
  • Thirty-one percent of patients were classified as low risk, with an observed stroke rate of 1.7% per year.
  • A notable proportion of elderly AF patients exhibited relatively low stroke rates.

Conclusions:

  • Existing stroke risk stratification schemes may require refinement for elderly nonvalvular AF populations.
  • Further investigation is crucial for reliable stroke risk stratification in AF patients to guide preventative strategies.

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