ARYA Atherosclerosis Journal

The evaluation of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with non-hemorrhagic stroke and atrial fibrillation

Document Type : Short Communication

Authors

Mahdi Najafi-Dalui 1
Hasan Shemirani 2
Reyhaneh Zavar 3
Ali Eghbal 4

1 Resident, Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Hypertension Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Heart Failure Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

4 Resident, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common tachyarrhythmia and an important risk factor for thromboembolic stroke. CHA2DS2-VASc score was introduced for assessment of embolic events and as criteria for starting anticoagulants. This study was performed to evaluate the left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in patients with non-hemorrhagic stroke and AF. METHODS: This cross-sectional study consisted of 76 consecutive patients with suspected non-hemorrhagic stroke referred to the Cardiology Department of Alzahra and Ayatollah Kashani hospitals in Isfahan, Iran, during 2015-2016. Demographic, anthropometric and clinical characteristics were evaluated for all patients at baseline. CHA2DS2-VASc score was calculated for all. All eligible patients underwent transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) and LVDD was measured in the patients. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 64.64 ± 5.95 years and 28 subjects (36.8%) were women. The most common underlying disease in the patients was hypertension (HTN) (65.8%). Median (range) CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4 (1-7). Four patients (5.3%) had paroxysmal AF and 16 cases (21.1%) had LVDD. Analysis showed that LVDD in patients with non-hemorrhagic stroke and coexisting AF was not associated with CHA2DS2-VASc score (r = 0.151, P = 0.192). CONCLUSION: LVDD is not associated with CHA2DS2-VASc score in patients with non-hemorrhagic stroke and coexisting AF. 

Keywords

Left Ventricular Dysfunction
Stroke
Atrial Fibrillation
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ARYA Atherosclerosis Journal
Volume 13, Issue 6 - Serial Number 6
November and December 2017
Pages 299-303

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