Prevalence of atrial fibrillation in patients with ischemic stroke

Abstract

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke.
Objective: To determine the frequency of atrial fibrillation and the clinical characteristics of patients with ischemic stroke admitted to the Stroke Unit of Hospital de Clínicas between 2018 and 2023.
Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted using non-probability sampling. Patients aged ≥40 years with ischemic stroke admitted between January 2018 and December 2023 were included. Sociodemographic variables, cardiovascular risk factors, antiplatelet therapy, thrombolysis, and length of hospital stay were analyzed.
Results: A total of 720 patients were included; the frequency of atrial fibrillation was 17.7%. The mean age was 65.4 ± 11.3 years, and 61.6% were male. The main cardiovascular risk factors were hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and smoking. Prior to admission, 2.7% of patients were receiving antiplatelet therapy, compared with 79.5% at discharge. Thrombolysis was performed in 15.5% of patients. Among those with atrial fibrillation, 42% were receiving prior anticoagulation. The mean time from hospital admission to thrombolysis was 48 ± 5 minutes, while the mean time from symptom onset to thrombolysis was 186 ± 3 minutes. The mean length of hospital stay was 6.1 ± 3 days.
Conclusion: Atrial fibrillation was frequent among patients with ischemic stroke. Hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus were the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors. Thrombolysis was performed in a low proportion of patients, whereas antiplatelet therapy use increased considerably by discharge.