Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Comparative clinical profiles and outcomes of prior vs. concurrently diagnosed atrial fibrillation in acute ischaemic stroke: the implication of diagnosis timing
- Retrospective cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Prior AF and AFDCS have distinctive clinical profiles supporting AF is a disease of continuum according to its diagnostic vicinity to the IS.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) admitted for acute ischaemic stroke, 2010–20
- Participants
- 720 patients
- Exposure
- AF diagnosed concurrently with stroke vs prior AF
- Prior AFn = 451reference
- AFDCSn = 269
- Outcome
- Net clinical outcome:
- Recurrent stroke
- Major bleeding
- Hospitalization or ED visits for CV events
- Death
- Follow-up
- Median 2.0 (IQR 0.6-4.6) years
Main finding
Net clinical outcome · median 2.0 years
Adjusted hazard ratio
0.776
95% CI 0.611–0.986
P = 0.038
AFDCS vs Prior AF
adjusted HR 0.776 (95% CI 0.611–0.986); P = 0.038
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | adjusted HR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recurrent stroke · median 2.0 years | 0.784 (0.450–1.365) | P = 0.389 | |
| 0.512Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
Comorbidities
- Prior AF had more prevalent diabetes, HF, vascular disease and valvular heart disease than AFDCS
- all P < 0.05
Echocardiographic profile
- AFDCS had significantly higher LVEF and smaller left atrial diameter than prior AF
Original publication
Comparative clinical profiles and outcomes of prior vs. concurrently diagnosed atrial fibrillation in acute ischaemic stroke: the implication of diagnosis timing. Europace. Published 3 June 2025. doi:10.1093/europace/euaf107
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it