Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Acute Ischaemic Stroke: A Multicentric Cohort Study

Abstract

Introduction: India reports high prevalence of stroke, both in rural and urban areas. Secondary prevention is very important in patients with stroke to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with it. Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is an important risk factor for stroke which can lead to cerebrovascular insult. Aim: To study the prevalence of AF in patients with acute ischaemic stroke and to obtain the association between the parameters such as age, gender, stroke territory and stroke severity by National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Materials and Methods: In this multicentric cohort study, 150 patients with acute ischaemic stroke (new onset or recurrent) were studied at tertiary care centres located in Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Prayagraj, Moradabad and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) from January 2020 to January 2021. Age, gender, stroke territory and stroke severity by NIHSS was recorded and compared between those with and without AF. The Chi-square test was used to assess the association and obtaining significance. Results: Prevalence of AF in patients with stroke was 8% (n=12), which was significantly high in female population (8 out of 12; p=0.025), those with age more than 60 years (10 out of 12; p=0.011), with atrial dilatation (9 out of 12; p=0.124), patients with severe stroke as per NIHSS (7 out of 12; p=0.001) and those with poor outcome (8 out of 12; p=0.012). Conclusion: In the present study, 8% of the stroke patients had AF with stroke. Elderly age, female sex, and large atrial size on Echocardiogram (ECHO) should be intensively investigated for AF in stroke patients.