Few models had addressed the cumulative nature of risk factors where a combination of risk factors would confer a greater risk than either factor alone .
In patients at high risk of stroke , anticoagulation is cost effective , but not for those with a low risk of stroke .
The risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation ( AF ) needs to be assessed in each patient to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of thromboprophylaxis , with the aim of appropriate use of antithrombotic therapy .
To achieve this , stroke risk factors in AF population s need to be identified and stroke risk stratification models have been devised on the basis of these risk factors .
In this article , we firstly provide a systematic review of studies examining the attributable stroke risk of various clinical , demographic and echocardiographic patient characteristics in AF population s. Secondly , we performed a systematic review of published stroke risk stratification models , in terms of the results of the review of stroke risk factors and their ability to accurately discriminate between different levels of stroke risk .
Risk factors for thromboembolic complications in chronic atrial fibrillation. The Copenhagen AFASAK study.
As previously reported , 1007 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation participated in the Copenhagen AFASAK study . Before inclusion to trial , they all had a physical examination , chest roentgenogram , and echocardiogram with determination of left atrial size . This study evaluated the importance of cardiovascular risk factors for development of thromboembolic complications . To exclude any treatment effects on occurrence of thromboembolic complications , we included only the 336 patients from the placebo group . Using Cox 's regression model , previous myocardial infa rct ion was a significant risk factor for development of thromboembolic complications . Age , gender , heart failure , chest pain , hypertensive heart disease , diabetes , systolic and diastolic blood pressure , smoking , relative heart volume , and left atrial size were all without statistical importance
Few models had addressed the cumulative nature of risk factors where a combination of risk factors would confer a greater risk than either factor alone .
In patients at high risk of stroke , anticoagulation is cost effective , but not for those with a low risk of stroke .
The risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation ( AF ) needs to be assessed in each patient to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of thromboprophylaxis , with the aim of appropriate use of antithrombotic therapy .
To achieve this , stroke risk factors in AF population s need to be identified and stroke risk stratification models have been devised on the basis of these risk factors .
In this article , we firstly provide a systematic review of studies examining the attributable stroke risk of various clinical , demographic and echocardiographic patient characteristics in AF population s. Secondly , we performed a systematic review of published stroke risk stratification models , in terms of the results of the review of stroke risk factors and their ability to accurately discriminate between different levels of stroke risk .