Stroke and Dementia Risk in Patients with and without Atrial Fibrillation and Carotid Arterial Disease

We sought to understand the risks of stroke, transient ischemic attack(TIA), and dementia in patients with and without atrial fibrillation (AF) and carotid arterial disease (CD), or a combination of both, and determine if therapies for each disease may influence risks. 11,572 patients were included and matched into 4 groups of 2,893 by the presence of AF and CD. CD and AF augment risk of stroke/TIA and dementia in the general population and the coexistence of both diseases is additive in risk. Ablation of AF was associated with lower risk, the magnitude of which was greater in those with CD.

Source: Heart Rhythm - July 8, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: T. Jared Bunch, Tami L. Bair, Brian G. Crandall, Michael J. Cutler, John D. Day, Kevin G. Graves, Victoria Jacobs, Charles Mallender, Jeffrey S. Osborn, J. Peter Weiss, Heidi T. May Source Type: research