Key result
Chronic atrial fibrillation is associated with more than a fivefold increased risk of stroke, rising to a 17-fold increase with rheumatic heart disease.
Why the study?
Does chronic atrial fibrillation increase stroke incidence in the general population?
Does chronic atrial fibrillation increase stroke incidence in the general population?
Chronic atrial fibrillation is a major precursor of cerebral embolism, associated with a more than fivefold increase in stroke incidence even in the absence of rheumatic heart disease.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Reinforces stroke risk awareness in chronic AF; extends prior observational evidence on RHD interaction.
Chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) as a precursor of stroke was assessed over 24 years of follow-up of the general population sample at Framingham, Massachusetts.Persons with chronic established AF, with or without rheumatic heart disease (RHD), are at greatly increased risk of stroke, and the stroke is probably due to embolism.Chronic AF in the absence of RHD is associated with more than a fivefold increase in stroke incidence, while AF with RHD has a 17-fold increase.Stroke occurrence increased as duration of AF increased, with no evidence of a particularly vulnerable period.Chronic idiopathic AF is an important precursor of cerebral embolism.Controlled trials of anticoagulants or antiarrhythmic agents in persons with chronic AF may demonstrate if strokes can be prevented in this highly susceptible group.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Wolf et al. (2011) studied this question. Chronic atrial fibrillation is associated with more than a fivefold increased risk of stroke, rising to a 17-fold increase with rheumatic heart disease.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: