Risk Stratification for Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation

Understanding a patient's risk for stroke is an important consideration in recommending which type of medication to perscribe to try and prevent a stroke.

Here is some research:

High-Risk Factors:

• Mitral stenosis
• Prosthetic heart valve
• History of stroke or TIA

Moderate-Risk Factors:

• Age > 75 years
• Hypertension
• Diabetes mellitus
• Heart failure or decrease heart function

Less-Validated Risk Factors:

• Age 65-75 years
• Coronary artery disease
• Female gender
• Thyrotoxicosis

Dubious Risk Factors:

• Duration of atrial fibrillation
• Pattern of atrial fibrillation (paraoxysmal vs persistent)
• Left atrial diameter

I recommend all patients with atrial fibrialltion discuss their risk factors with their physician and devise a treatment plan based on an evidenced-based data.

Data:

Chest. 2004;126:429S

Circulation. 2005; 112:1687