New tool to reduce stroke risk developed

Researchers at the University of East Anglia have developed a new way of identifying patients at risk of an irregular heartbeat, known as 'atrial fibrillation'. While not life-threatening, the condition increases people’s risk of having a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or stroke by up to five times.

A new study, published today, reveals four specific factors that can predict which patients will have atrial fibrillation. These include older age, higher diastolic blood pressure, and problems with both the coordination and function of the upper left chamber of the heart.

The research team collected data from 323 patients across the East of England, treated at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who had had a stroke with no cause identified- known as Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source.

They analyzed medical records as well as data from prolonged heart rhythm monitoring. They also studied their echocardiograms.

Prof Vassilios Vassiliou said: “We identified four parameters that were linked with the development of atrial fibrillation, which were consistently present in patients that had this arrhythmia. We then developed a model that can be used to predict who will show atrial fibrillation in the next three years, and is therefore at increased risk of another stroke in the future.”

Reference: Atrial Fibrillation in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source: Role of advanced imaging of left atrial function, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.15022