1.4 times increase in atrial fibrillation-related ischemic stroke and TIA over 12 years in a stroke center

Abstract

Background and Purpose Prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) has quadrupled in the past 50 years in the general population. However, there is uncertainty regarding prevalence of AF over time in ischemic stroke patients given the aging population and enhanced surveillance of AF. We aimed to explore the changing prevalence of AF as well as other risk factors, stroke subtypes, investigations and pre-stroke medications among ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of data from a prospective database of consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke and TIA from 2004 to 2015. Trends in risk factors and other variables year by y..