Cardioembolic cerebral infarction due to atrial fibrillation: clinical epidemiological profile

Introduction: The relationship between neurological and cardiovascular processes has been widely substantiated from strict pathophysiological and biochemical bases in both systems. Atrial fibrillation is responsible for 25% of ischemic strokes of cardioembolic origin, however in a significant volume of patients whose admission occurs due to an initial or recurrent event of cerebral infarction, the existence of this condition is unknown and its diagnosis is made during admission.Objective: To characterize patients with cardioembolic cerebral infarction secondary to atrial fibrillation.Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study of 162 patients admitted to the neurological service with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke. The sample was made up of 42 patients with coexisting atrial fibrillation. Parameters of age sex, quantitative neurological damage, associated comorbidities and compromised arterial territory were studied.Results: Atrial fibrillation was found in 25.9% of cases, with a predominance of the male sex, the average age of the patients was 73.4 years (SD=8.5), reaching a prevalence of 32% in people over 75 years of age, the main personal pathological history was arterial hypertension and smoking, a greater involvement of the left cerebral artery was detected for 38.09% and moderate motor deficit predominated.Conclusions: It is necessary to perform serial electrocardiographic monitoring of patients with cerebral ischemic strokes as part of the follow-up policies to anticipate complications and avoid recurrence.