Atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of cognitive and functional decline

Commentary on: Marzona I, O'Donnell M, Teo K, et al.. Increased risk of cognitive and functional decline in patients with atrial fibrillation: results of the ONTARGET and TRANSCEND studies. CMAJ 2012;184:E329–36. Context Stroke (clinical and subclinical) is associated with increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline. The thromboembolic risk for stroke from atrial fibrillation (AF) is modifiable. The prevalence of AF has been estimated at up to 8% in a large retrospective cohort study of those aged 67 and over, with incidence rising with increasing age (mean age at diagnosis was 80 years).1 A recent meta-analysis found an association between AF and incident dementia in those with recent stroke but less evidence in those without stroke, and commented on the heterogeneity among the studies in this area.2 A subsequent cohort study (n=3045) in those aged ≥65 has reported that AF was associated with increased...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Epidemiologic studies, Drugs: cardiovascular system, Dementia, Drugs: CNS (not psychiatric), Stroke, Memory disorders (psychiatry), Psychiatry of old age, Diabetes Online articles Source Type: research