[Stroke and other tromboembolic complications in atrial fibrillation. Part I. Prevalence and risk factors].

In a series of papers the authors discuss problems of epidemiology and drug prevention of stroke and other thromboembolic complications in patients with atrial fibrillation. Part I contains data on frequency of strokes in different categories of patients as well as review of main risk factors and mechanisms of development of stroke and other systemic embolic complications in various types of atrial fibrillation. Application of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography for assessment of risk of stroke and other systemic emboli is also discussed.