Cardiovascular risk factor profiles differ by ischemic stroke subtype, with atrial fibrillation being more frequent in cardioembolic infarction and hypertension in lacunar stroke.
Different subtypes of ischemic stroke are associated with distinct cardiovascular risk factor profiles, highlighting the need for targeted primary and secondary prevention strategies.
Timely diagnosis and control of cardiovascular risk factors is a priority objective for adequate primary and secondary prevention of acute stroke. Hypertension, atrial fibrillation and diabetes mellitus are the most common risk factors for acute cerebrovascular events, although novel risk factors, such as sleep-disordered breathing, inflammatory markers or carotid intima-media thickness have been identified. However, the cardiovascular risk factors profile differs according to the different subtypes of ischemic stroke. Atrial fibrillation and ischemic heart disease are more frequent in patients with cardioembolic infarction, hypertension and diabetes in patients with lacunar stroke, and vascular peripheral disease, hypertension, diabetes, previous transient ischemic attack and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with atherothrombotic infarction. This review aims to present updated data on risk factors for acute ischemic stroke as well as to describe the usefulness of new and emerging vascular risk factors in stroke patients.
Adrià Arboix (Thu,) conducted a review in Acute ischemic stroke. Cardiovascular risk factor profiles differ by ischemic stroke subtype, with atrial fibrillation being more frequent in cardioembolic infarction and hypertension in lacunar stroke.