Novel imaging modalities to predict the development of atrial fibrillation post stroke

Atrial fibrillationLeft atrial longitudinal strain (LALS) Post stroke Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common arrhythmia of clinical importance is associated with significant morbidity and mortality.The prevalence of AF is found to be increased with the age of an individual.AF is one of the leading causes of stroke.Echocardiographic assessment may have a crucial role in detecting the clinical risk of stroke in AF patients.Left atrial (LA) morphology and function can be assessed by echocardiography for detection of the risk of formation of intracardiac thrombi [1].However, patients with acute ischemic stroke are at substantially increased risk of AF.According to a meta-analysis done by Sposato et al., 24% of patients could be newly diagnosed with AF after an episode of acute ischemic stroke during their hospital admission [2].The exact pathogenesis of AF after stroke remains unclear, both hemodynamic and nonhemodynamic factors may contribute to the development of AF.AF in patients with acute ischemic stroke is associated with higher in-hospital mortality and more severe neurologic deterioration with higher recurrence rates.Therefore, identification of post-stroke AF in patients without previous history of AF is crucial to reduce recurrences of stroke and the hospital stay.However, due to paroxysmal and asymptomatic nature of AF, patients with post-stroke AF often remain undiagnosed.Flint et al. demonstrated that some patients could be diagnosed with AF when IJC Heart & Vasculature 22 (2019) 46-47