Heart Failure and Stroke

Abstract

See related article, pages 1715–1719 Heart failure (HF) has been recognized as a risk factor for stroke since the 70s.1 Results from a population-based stroke study have shown that HF is an independent risk factor for severe strokes.2 It seems likely that many HF-related strokes are embolic, but few studies have evaluated the use of anticoagulation therapy in these patients. At present we are awaiting the results of 2 studies, which aim at defining the optimum antithrombotic therapy for patients with HF.3,4 Ejection fraction (EF) is an echocardiographic measure of left ventricular systolic function. Normal value of EF is 50% to 70%, but only half of individuals having an EF ≤30% have clinical overt HF.5 More uncommonly, clinical HF …