ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION AND ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: THE DOUBLE TROUBLE AND STROKE

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Arterial hypertension (AH) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are very important risk factors of stroke. Vascular stroke is a very frequent cause of morbidity and mortality, and in patients who suffered stroke, subsequent long-term neurological deficit can persist. It is therefore important and necessary to influence these risk factors. Design and method: We retrospectively reviewed a group of patients hospitalized during six months period at our Department of Neurology with the diagnosis of stroke confirmed by imaging (CT, CT angiography, brain MRI). This group consisted of 218 patients, including 145 men (66.5 %) and 73 women (33.5 %). The average age was 70.8 years. Results: We detected AH in 199 subjects (91.2 %) and AF in 70 subjects (32.1 %). 182 patients (83.5 %) have been diagnosed with ischemic stroke and 36 patients (16.5 %) with hemorrhagic stroke. In the group of patients with AF only 33 patients (47.1 %) were treated by anticoagulants, what points out an inadequate indication of anticoagulant treatment. It is also noteworthy that in the group of patients with anticoagulant therapy who have developed ischemic stroke in spite of this treatment, we found that in 16 cases (48.5 %) the treatment was underdosed. Conclusions: Arterial hypertension and atrial fibrillation were highly prevalent in our cohort of stroke patients. Despite proven effect of anticoagulant treatment, many patients with atrial fibrillation were not anticoagulated and almost half of those on anticoagulation treatment were underdosed. These results emphasize the importance of effective management of arterial hypertension and atrial fibrillation, the most common modifiable risk factors of vascular strokes.