Abstract
BackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) affects millions of people worldwide and can remain undiagnosed for years. It is a major cause of cerebrovascular stroke (CVS); hence, early detection is extremely important in order to decrease the risk of CVS. We conducted a retrospective observational study looking into the prevalence of silent AF in 3299 patients admitted from January 2014 to December 2017 in a tertiary care stroke specialized center. Ischemic CVS was confirmed either by using multislice computed tomography (MSCT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. AF was diagnosed by electrocardiography (ECG) at the time of admission or during the hospital stay. Patients with a history of AF were excluded from the study.ResultsOf the 3299 patients admitted by acute ischemic CVS, 707 (21.43%) had a history of AF and thus were excluded from the study. Of the remaining 2592 patients eligible for the study, 1666 (64.27%) were males with a mean age of 56.06 years (± 16.01). A total of 2313 (89.24%) patients remained in sinus rhythm throughout the hospital stay, 211 (8.14%) patients were in AF on admission, and 68 (2.62 %) patients developed AF during their hospital stay. The total number of newly diagnosed patients with AF was 279 (10.76%).ConclusionThe prevalence of de novo atrial fibrillation in patients presented with acute cerebrovascular stroke is high. The implementation of good screening programs can significantly reduce the risk of disabilities and morbidities.
Highlights
Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects millions of people worldwide and can remain undiagnosed for years
Almost one third of all ischemic strokes are cryptogenic, and recent data of new studies support that silent AF, which is an asymptomatic form of AF incidentally detected during a routine examination or manifesting with a complication, is a major contributor to cryptogenic strokes [10, 11]
This study was a retrospective observational analysis of all patients admitted with an acute cerebrovascular stroke (CVS) to a tertiary care stroke specialized center between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2017. 3299 patients were diagnosed as CVS by either using multislice computed tomography (MSCT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain on admission
Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects millions of people worldwide and can remain undiagnosed for years. It is a major cause of cerebrovascular stroke (CVS); early detection is extremely important in order to decrease the risk of CVS. The disease can be asymptomatic and remain undiagnosed until patients present with an ischemic stroke [6]. Almost one third of all ischemic strokes are cryptogenic, and recent data of new studies support that silent AF, which is an asymptomatic form of AF incidentally detected during a routine examination or manifesting with a complication, is a major contributor to cryptogenic strokes [10, 11]. Stroke without detectable etiology is frustrating for patients, their families, and the caring physician [12]
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