Atrial fibrillation predicts cognitive impairment in patients with ischemic stroke.

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.