Estimated prevalence of silent atrial fibrillation in acute ischemic stroke patients

Moselhey, K.S.; Ebrahem, M.E.; Shawkey, And S.M.

doi:10.21608/bjas.2021.210897

Estimated prevalence of silent atrial fibrillation in acute ischemic stroke patients

Document Type : Original Research Papers

Authors

¹ 1Neuropsychiatry, Dept., Faculty of Medicine, Benha Univ., Benha, Egypt

² 2Internal medicine, Dept., Faculty of Medicine, Benha Univ., Benha, Egypt

³ Critical care medicine, Dept., Faculty of Medicine, Benha Univ., Benha, Egypt

10.21608/bjas.2021.210897

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects over 34 million people globally and is linked to a five-fold increase in the risk of ischemic disease, which is the primary cause of mortality and long-term disability. Aim: identify silent AF prevailing in acute ischemical stroke. Methods: The present research was conducted on (100) ischemic stroke patients. All patients were subjected to complete clinical examination, ECG and CT brain. In 56% of patients, the normal sinus rhythm and 44%, AF were previously diagnosed with 12%, while 26% were newly diagnosed (undiagnosed AF). Results: Average stroke age was 64.19 ± 12.26 with an incidence almost equal between males and females. The heart rate was within the normal range of 89% of the patients and only 11% experienced tachycardia. The bulk of patients (96%) show normal Echo values whereas just 4% show congestion. All patients (9% in ISU versus 91% in ward) were admitted to hospital, 96% of them remained alive and just 4% perished. Roughly 18% of strokes had ECG-assessed AF at presentation and approximately 44% had an earlier AF history. Conclusion: identification of AF is extremely essential in patients with unknown origin after a stroke, especially since the presence or absence of AF is of considerable clinical significance, particularly with respect to the use of oral anticoagulation and possible future episodes of persistent AF.

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