The relative increase in cardioembolic strokes compared to atherosclerotic strokes highlights the growing need for cardiac embolism screening and appropriate use of anticoagulation.
With more intensive medical management in the community, a significant decrease in atherosclerotic risk factors was observed, with a significant decline in stroke/transient ischemic attack caused by large artery atherosclerosis and small vessel disease. As a result, cardioembolic stroke/transient ischemic attack has increased significantly. Our findings suggest that more intensive investigation for cardiac sources of embolism and greater use of anticoagulation may be warranted.
Bogiatzi et al. (Fri,) studied this question.