Key result
Peripheral vascular disease is highly prevalent among atrial fibrillation patients, associates with increased mortality, and improves risk stratification when included in stroke risk scoring systems.
Peripheral vascular disease is a significant risk factor in atrial fibrillation that improves stroke risk stratification when included in scoring systems like CHA2DS2-VASc.
May support adding PVD to AF stroke scores; extends prior models but requires prospective validation.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice. It results in a 5-fold increased risk for stroke and thromboembolism and is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. AF shares several risk factors and pathophysiological features with atherosclerosis. Hence AF is often complicated by a variety of other cardiovascular conditions. Indeed, peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is highly prevalent among AF patients and associates with increased mortality. Inclusion of PVD within stroke risk scoring systems such as the CHA2DS2-VASc score improves risk stratification of AF patients. Of note, PVD has not been previously well documented nor looked for in observational studies or clinical trials. The aim of this present review article is to provide an overview of the association between atherosclerosis (with particular focus on PVD) and AF as well as its complications.
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Jover et al. (2012) conducted a review in Atrial fibrillation. Peripheral vascular disease was evaluated. Peripheral vascular disease is highly prevalent among atrial fibrillation patients, associates with increased mortality, and improves risk stratification when included in stroke risk scoring systems.
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