Atrial fibrillation predicts cognitive impairment in patients with ischemic stroke

Eliyahu Hayim Mizrahi*, Anna Waitzman, Marina Arad, Abraham Adunsky

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is considered as a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Methods: This retrospective chart review study was conducted in a patient stroke rehabilitation ward of a university-affiliated referral hospital. The participants were 707 patients admitted for a standard rehabilitation course after an ischemic stroke. Cognitive status was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and scores lower than 24 points were considered as suggestive of cognitive impairment. Results: Atrial fibrillation, age, gender, diabetes, and dementia emerged as the only statistically significant parameters differing between those with MMSE score lower than 24 or higher. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, AF (odds ratio 1.6, 95% confidence interval 1.03-2.47, P =.03) was associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment. Conclusions:Our findings suggest that atrial fibrillation upon admission is independently associated with lower MMSE scores in patients with ischemic stroke.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)623-626
Number of pages4
JournalAmerican Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and other Dementias
Volume26
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2011

Keywords

  • atrial fibrillation
  • cognitive impairment
  • ischemic stroke
  • vascular risk factors.

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