Characteristics and incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with cardioembolic stroke

Abstract

Introduction: atrial fibrillation is a sustained cardiac arrhythmia frequently found in clinical practice. Sometimes stroke can be its form of presentation.

Objective: to characterize patients with atrial fibrillation and cardioembolic stroke from the demographic, epidemiological and clinical points of view, estimating its incidence in 2017.

Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive observational study was carried out in the Ciego de Ávila Provincial General Teaching Hospital between January 2016 and June 2018. It worked with the 100 patients admitted from the southern territory of the province, who met the inclusion criteria. The information was collected through a form prepared by the authors. Ethical principles were met.

Results: the incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with cardioembolic stroke in 2017 was 3,27 x 10 000 inhabitants. Females (51,00 %) and ages 56 to 65 (31,00 %) predominated; 66,00 % had associated conditions, of which kidney failure was the most frequent (22,00 %); 33,00 % were smokers. As a personal pathological antecedent, arterial hypertension (58,00 %), permanent fibrillation (35,00 %), the EHRA II classification (52,00 %), those who did not receive anticoagulant treatment (82,00 %) and the stay of less than seven days (50,00 %) predominated.

Conclusions: 3,27 people per 10 000 inhabitants had atrial fibrillation and cardioembolic stroke. It predominated in women, in those over 55, and hypertensive. Permanent fibrillation and II classification were the most frequent. The hospital stay was short