Atrial fibrillation as a predictive factor for severe stroke and early death in 15 831 patients with acute ischaemic stroke
Open Access
- 1 May 2005
- journal article
- research article
- Published by BMJ in Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
- Vol. 76 (5), 679-683
- https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2004.048827
Abstract
Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia and a major risk factor for stroke. Aims: To assess whether AF in patients with acute ischaemic stroke is associated with severe stroke and early death. Materials/methods: Patients with acute ischaemic stroke (15 831) who were registered in the Japan Multicenter Stroke Investigators’ Collaboration registry were analysed. The AF group comprised 3335 (21.1%) patients (median age, 75 years) and the non-AF group comprised 12 496 (78.9%) patients (median age, 70 years). The association between AF and severe stroke and early death was investigated by means of multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of the AF group was higher than that of the non-AF group (median, 12 v 5; p < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses found that female sex, advanced age, AF, and a history of stroke were independent factors associated with severe stroke (NIHSS score, ⩾ 11). The mortality rate within 28 days after admission was 11.3% in the AF group and 3.4% in the non-AF group (p < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified older age, AF, and NIHSS score at admission as independent factors associated with early death. Conclusion: AF was a predictive factor for severe stroke and early death in acute ischaemic stroke. Careful cardiac evaluation and appropriate treatment are needed to improve outcome in patients with acute stroke and AF.Keywords
This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- Risk of Early Death and Recurrent Stroke and Effect of Heparin in 3169 Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation in the International Stroke TrialStroke, 2001
- Acute Stroke With Atrial FibrillationStroke, 1996
- Prevalence, age distribution, and gender of patients with atrial fibrillation. Analysis and implications.1995
- Prognostic factors in first-ever stroke in the carotid artery territory seen within 6 hours after onset.Stroke, 1993
- Mortality in acute stroke with atrial fibrillation. The Italian Acute Stroke Study Group.Stroke, 1991
- The Lausanne Stroke Registry: analysis of 1,000 consecutive patients with first stroke.Stroke, 1988
- Interobserver agreement for the assessment of handicap in stroke patients.Stroke, 1988
- Risk of recurrent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation and non-valvular heart disease.Stroke, 1983
- RELATION OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND HIGH HAEMATOCRIT TO MORTALITY IN ACUTE STROKEThe Lancet, 1983
- Epidemiologic assessment of chronic atrial fibrillation and risk of strokeNeurology, 1978