Recognizing Atrial Fibrillation Early in Stroke to Prevent Recurrence
A research team comprising Professor Dongwook Shin from the Department of Family Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Professor Kyungdo Han from the Department of Statistics, Soongsil University, Professor Jihoon Kang from the Department of Family Medicine, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, and Professor Jeongeun Yoo from the Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital Gangnam Center analyzed data from 2010 to 2018. They compared 98,706 patients with cerebral infarction and 47,695 patients with cerebral hemorrhage to a control group from the general population. The study found that patients with cerebral infarction had a 2.32-fold increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation during the follow-up period. Notably, this risk surged to 7.32-fold within the first year after stroke. Patients with cerebral hemorrhage also exhibited a nearly 4-fold increase in atrial fibrillation risk during the same period.
The research team concluded that autonomic nervous system imbalance and systemic inflammatory responses following a stroke may lead to cardiac electrical instability, thereby increasing the risk of atrial fibrillation. However, they acknowledged the possibility that previously undiagnosed atrial fibrillation may have been detected later, due to the increased intensity of hospital monitoring in the early stages following a stroke.
“Atrial fibrillation is not only a cause of stroke but can also emerge afterward,” said Professor Dongwook Shin, the lead researcher. “This highlights the importance of early detection and proactive management, particularly within the first year following a stroke diagnosis.”