title: Stroke as the Initial Manifestation of Atrial Fibrillation: The Framingham Heart Study.
abstract: To prevent strokes that may occur as the first manifestation of atrial fibrillation (AF), screening programs have been proposed to identify patients with undiagnosed AF who may be eligible for treatment with anticoagulation. However, the frequency with which patients with AF present with stroke as the initial manifestation of the arrhythmia is unknown.
  
  
  
  We estimated the frequency with which AF may present as a stroke in 1809 community-based Framingham Heart Study participants with first-detected AF and without previous strokes, by tabulating the frequencies of strokes occurring on the same day, within 30 days before, 90 days before, and 365 days before first-detected AF. Using previously reported AF incidence rates, we estimated the incidence of strokes that may represent the initial manifestation of AF.
  
  
  
  We observed 87 strokes that occurred ≤1 year before AF detection, corresponding to 1.7% on the same day, 3.4% within 30 days before, 3.7% within 90 days before, and 4.8% ≤1 year before AF detection. We estimated that strokes may present as the initial manifestation of AF at a rate of 2 to 5 per 10 000 person-years, in both men and women.
  
  
  
  We observed that stroke is an uncommon but measureable presenting feature of AF. Our data imply that emphasizing cost-effectiveness of population-wide AF-screening efforts will be important given the relative infrequency with which stroke represents the initial manifestation of AF.
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Research Center (S.A.L., L.-C.W., P.T.E.) and Cardiac Arrhythmia Service (S.A.L., P.T.E.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Boston University and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (X.Y., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (D.D.M.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Department of Neurology, Boston Medical Centre, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., C.S.K., S.S.); Pulmonary Center and the Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine (A.J.W.) and Preventive Medicine Section, Department of Medicine (E.J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, MA; and Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, MA (E.J.B.). slubitz@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lubitz
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Research Center (S.A.L., L.-C.W., P.T.E.) and Cardiac Arrhythmia Service (S.A.L., P.T.E.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Boston University and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (X.Y., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (D.D.M.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Department of Neurology, Boston Medical Centre, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., C.S.K., S.S.); Pulmonary Center and the Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine (A.J.W.) and Preventive Medicine Section, Department of Medicine (E.J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, MA; and Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, MA (E.J.B.).
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Research Center (S.A.L., L.-C.W., P.T.E.) and Cardiac Arrhythmia Service (S.A.L., P.T.E.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Boston University and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (X.Y., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (D.D.M.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Department of Neurology, Boston Medical Centre, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., C.S.K., S.S.); Pulmonary Center and the Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine (A.J.W.) and Preventive Medicine Section, Department of Medicine (E.J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, MA; and Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, MA (E.J.B.).
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Research Center (S.A.L., L.-C.W., P.T.E.) and Cardiac Arrhythmia Service (S.A.L., P.T.E.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Boston University and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (X.Y., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (D.D.M.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Department of Neurology, Boston Medical Centre, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., C.S.K., S.S.); Pulmonary Center and the Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine (A.J.W.) and Preventive Medicine Section, Department of Medicine (E.J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, MA; and Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, MA (E.J.B.).
authors.forename: Lu-Chen
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Research Center (S.A.L., L.-C.W., P.T.E.) and Cardiac Arrhythmia Service (S.A.L., P.T.E.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Boston University and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (X.Y., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (D.D.M.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Department of Neurology, Boston Medical Centre, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., C.S.K., S.S.); Pulmonary Center and the Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine (A.J.W.) and Preventive Medicine Section, Department of Medicine (E.J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, MA; and Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, MA (E.J.B.).
authors.forename: Hugo J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Aparicio
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Research Center (S.A.L., L.-C.W., P.T.E.) and Cardiac Arrhythmia Service (S.A.L., P.T.E.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Boston University and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (X.Y., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (D.D.M.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Department of Neurology, Boston Medical Centre, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., C.S.K., S.S.); Pulmonary Center and the Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine (A.J.W.) and Preventive Medicine Section, Department of Medicine (E.J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, MA; and Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, MA (E.J.B.).
authors.forename: Allan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Walkey
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Research Center (S.A.L., L.-C.W., P.T.E.) and Cardiac Arrhythmia Service (S.A.L., P.T.E.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Boston University and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (X.Y., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (D.D.M.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Department of Neurology, Boston Medical Centre, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., C.S.K., S.S.); Pulmonary Center and the Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine (A.J.W.) and Preventive Medicine Section, Department of Medicine (E.J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, MA; and Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, MA (E.J.B.).
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rafael Romero
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Research Center (S.A.L., L.-C.W., P.T.E.) and Cardiac Arrhythmia Service (S.A.L., P.T.E.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Boston University and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (X.Y., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (D.D.M.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Department of Neurology, Boston Medical Centre, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., C.S.K., S.S.); Pulmonary Center and the Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine (A.J.W.) and Preventive Medicine Section, Department of Medicine (E.J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, MA; and Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, MA (E.J.B.).
authors.forename: Carlos S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kase
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Research Center (S.A.L., L.-C.W., P.T.E.) and Cardiac Arrhythmia Service (S.A.L., P.T.E.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Boston University and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (X.Y., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (D.D.M.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Department of Neurology, Boston Medical Centre, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., C.S.K., S.S.); Pulmonary Center and the Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine (A.J.W.) and Preventive Medicine Section, Department of Medicine (E.J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, MA; and Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, MA (E.J.B.).
authors.forename: Patrick T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Ellinor
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Research Center (S.A.L., L.-C.W., P.T.E.) and Cardiac Arrhythmia Service (S.A.L., P.T.E.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Boston University and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (X.Y., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (D.D.M.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Department of Neurology, Boston Medical Centre, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., C.S.K., S.S.); Pulmonary Center and the Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine (A.J.W.) and Preventive Medicine Section, Department of Medicine (E.J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, MA; and Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, MA (E.J.B.).
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Research Center (S.A.L., L.-C.W., P.T.E.) and Cardiac Arrhythmia Service (S.A.L., P.T.E.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Boston University and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (X.Y., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (D.D.M.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Department of Neurology, Boston Medical Centre, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., C.S.K., S.S.); Pulmonary Center and the Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine (A.J.W.) and Preventive Medicine Section, Department of Medicine (E.J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, MA; and Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, MA (E.J.B.).
authors.forename: Sudha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seshadri
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Research Center (S.A.L., L.-C.W., P.T.E.) and Cardiac Arrhythmia Service (S.A.L., P.T.E.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Boston University and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (X.Y., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (D.D.M.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., P.A.W., S.S., E.J.B.); Department of Neurology, Boston Medical Centre, MA (H.J.A., J.R.R., C.S.K., S.S.); Pulmonary Center and the Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine (A.J.W.) and Preventive Medicine Section, Department of Medicine (E.J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, MA; and Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, MA (E.J.B.).
authors.forename: Emelia J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Benjamin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: atrial fibrillation; atrial flutter; incidence; mass screening; stroke