title: Risk factors for poor outcome and mortality at 3 months after the ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been shown that patients with atrial fibrillation have a poor prognosis in the early recovery phase after ischemic stroke (IS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA). The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with poor outcome, including mortality, 3 months after the onset of IS in patients with atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have prospectively investigated the characteristics of patients selected from the China National Stroke Registry. Poor outcome was defined as the modified Rankin scale score of 3 or more or death at 3-month follow-up. Association between the relevant risk factors and poor outcome was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Additionally, the interaction between multiple risk factors was also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each year of age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.031; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.017-1.045), the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at admission (OR: 1.219; 95% CI 1.185-1.254), and female gender (OR: 1.710; 95% CI 1.296-2.256) were independent risk factors for poor outcome at 3 months after IS. Independent risk factors for 3-month mortality included age (OR: 1.024; 95% CI 1.007-1.041), NIHSS at admission (OR: 1.122; 95% CI 1.100-1.144), and history of heart failure (OR: 1.855; 95% CI 1.141-3.015). Conversely, heavy alcohol intake was associated with protective effect on mortality poststroke (OR: .400; 95% CI .173-.928). There was no significant interaction between age and gender (for mortality, P=.16; for poor outcomes, P=.91), age and NIHSS (for mortality, P=.38; for poor outcomes, P=.11), and gender and NIHSS (for mortality, P=.33; for poor outcomes, P=.80).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age, gender, and NIHSS score were independently associated with poor outcome for IS or TIA patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in the early recovery stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shuya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xingquan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Chunxue
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Gaifen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yilong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chunjuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Yong-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; ischemic stroke; poor outcome; risk factors