Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

H.K Hawrami, Omid

	Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
IRAQI JOURNALOF COMMUNITY MEDICINE
Article 1, Volume 22, Issue 2, 2009, Pages 126-134
Author
Omid H.K Hawrami
Abstract
Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, affecting 0.5% of the adult population, its prevalence increases with age affecting 6% of the population older than 65 years. It is associated with 5- 6 % per year risk of embolic stroke. Patients & Methods: Between January 2007 and September 2007, 80 patients with stroke and AF were studied for types & risk factor of stroke, causes of AF & whether apirin or warfarin were used properly. Result: Stroke in AF patients was more common in females (55%) than males (45%) and sixty five percent of the patients were above 65 years, the mean age was 66.4 years. Hypertension (58.7%) and coronary artery disease (27.5%) were the most common causes of AF. 40% of the patients had 3 or more risk factors for stroke. 65% of the patients were at high and very high risk of stroke. Most common types of stroke were: cerebral infarction 83.7% & cerebral hemorrhage 10%.Among patients who were warfarin eligible, 80.7% were not given this medication. Conclusions: The majority of stroke patients with AF were elderly and more than half were females. Hypertension and coronary artery disease were found in a significant number of them. Warfarin was not used by the majority of the eligible patients. Key words: Atrial fibrillation, Stroke. Warfarin.
Keywords
Atrial fibrillation; Stroke; Warfarin

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