[Hypertension and age over 70 years are the two most important risk factors for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation].
In a registry of 250 patients treated for atrial fibrillation (160 recurrent, 90 permanent forms), we prospectively looked for associated risk factors for cerebrovascular complications. After a 4-years follow-up, 19 patients had presented a cerebral accident (13 strokes, 4 transient ischemic attacks, 2 cerebral hemorrhages). Prognostic factors for cerebrovascular complications were hypertension, valvular heart disease, and age > or = 70 years. When restricting the analysis to stroke and transient ischemic attacks, prognostic factors were limited to hypertension and age > or = 70 years. In conclusion, hypertension and age > or = 70 years are the main independent risk factors for cerebral ischemic attacks in out-of-hospital patients treated for atrial fibrillation.
Halimi
F
F
Service de rythmologie, C.M.C. Parly II, 21, rue Moxouris, 78150 Le Chesnay, France. franck.halimi@club-internet.fr
Leclercq
J F
JF
Bacquet
P
P
Fiorello
P
P
Attuel
P
P
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*