The Relationship Between Transthoracic Echocardiography Findings, Localization of Stroke, and Risk Factors in Patients With Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Objective: Ischemic stroke is one of the common neurological pathology. Identifying the risk factors and treating cardiac pathologies play an important role in preventing ischemic stroke stroke. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between transthoracic echocardiography findings, localization of ischemia and the etiology of stroke.
 Methods: We included 149 patients with ischemic stroke who were followed up at Neurology Department of İzmir Katip Çelebi University Atatürk Training and Research Hospital between January 2018-January 2019. Demographic characteristics of the patients, etiology and localization of stroke, presence of cardiac arrhythmias, and transthoracic electrocardiography findings were recorded and the relationship between these parameters were examined.
 Results: We enrolled 81 female (54.4%) and 68 male (45.6%) patients in this study. The mean age was 68.0312.35. 84.6% of the patients have atherosclerotic and15.4% have cardioembolic stroke. The most common risk factor was hyperlipidemia. Atrial fibrillation was detected in 21.1% of the patients. While atrial fibrillation was more common in patients with cardioembolic stroke, smoking was more common in patients with atherosclerotic stroke. Although most patients had multiple risk factors prior to stroke, almost half of the patients did not use any antiaggregant or anticoagulant therapy. Cardioembolic strokes were positively correlated with greater left atrium width. There was no correlation between transthoracic electrocardiography findings and stroke location.
 Conclusion: Determination of risk factors in patients with ischemic stroke, investigation of cardiac pathologies, and applying appropriate treatments are important in terms of preventing both new and recurrent stroke development.