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. 2021 Oct;10(3):147–153. doi: 10.15420/aer.2021.34

Table 2: Studies on Risk Factors for Residual Stroke in AF.

Study Year Study design Prospective or Retrospective No. Patients Follow-up Duration Results
Szeto and Hui[29] 2010 Cohort study Retrospective 109 8 years 65.1% female, mean age 78 years, 83.5% had hypertension
Lip et al.[33] 2010 Post hoc analysis of RCT Retrospective 7,329 1.5 years Age ≥75 years (HR 1.77, 95% CI [1.32–2.38]), previous stroke or TIA (HR 2.24 [95% CI, 1.66–3.02]), coronary artery disease (HR 1.52, 95% CI [1.14–2.04]), smoking (HR 2.10, 95% CI [1.38–3.18]) and non-use of alcohol (HR 1.43, 95% CI [1.05–1.92]) were significant predictors of thromboembolism
Albertsen et al.[35] 2013 Meta-analysis of 6 RCTs NA 58,883 NA Age ≥75 years (RR 1.46, 95% CI [1.25–1.69]), female sex (RR 1.30, 95% CI [1.15–1.49]), previous stroke or TIA (RR 1.85, 95% CI [1.32–2.60]), VKA-naïve status (RR 1.18, 95% CI [1.03–1.35]), moderate renal failure (RR 1.54, 95% CI [1.30–1.81]), severe renal failure (RR 2.22, 95% CI [1.85–2.66]), previous aspirin use (RR 1.19, 95% CI [1.04–1.37]), Asian race (RR 1.70, 95% CI [1.42–2.03]) and CHADS2 score ≥3 (RR 1.64, 95% CI [1.18–2.27]) associated with higher stroke rates
Pancholy et al.[37] 2014 Meta-analysis of 6 RCTs NA 26,260 NA Female AF patients on warfarin were at significantly greater risk of stroke or systemic embolism than their male counterparts (OR 1.28, 95% CI [1.11–1.47]), although this was not observed with DOAC therapy (OR 1.15, 95% CI [0.97–1.35])
Senoo et al.[34] 2015 Post hoc analysis of RCT Retrospective 4,556 11.6 months Permanent AF (HR 1.66, 95% CI [1.08–2.55]), creatinine (HR 0.35, 95% CI [0.19–0.66]), prior cerebrovascular events (HR 1.97, 95% CI [1.31–2.96]) and previous coronary disease (HR 1.74, 95% CI [1.14–2.57]) were independently associated with a composite of stroke or systemic embolism and cardiovascular death
Paciaroni et al.[30] 2019 Case-control study Prospective 713 NA Off-label low dose of DOACs (OR 3.18, 95% CI [1.95–5.85]), atrial enlargement (OR 6.64, 95% CI [4.63–9.52]), hyperlipidaemia (OR 2.40, 95% CI [1.83–3.16]), CHA2DS2-VASc score (OR 1.72, 95% CI [1.58–1.88] for each 1-point increase) and non-paroxysmal AF (OR 2.22, 95% CI [1.64–3.03]) were associated with cerebrovascular ischaemic events
Maeda et al.[38] 2021 Cohort study Retrospective 11,848 3 years Older age (HR 2.02, 95% CI [1.49–2.73] for 65–74 versus <65 years), hypertension (HR 1.41, 95% CI [1.04–1.92]) hyperlipidaemia (HR 1.46, 95% CI [1.07–1.98]) and CHA2DS2 VASc score were significantly associated with increased risk of stroke or systemic embolism

DOAC = direct oral anticoagulant; NA = not available or not applicable; RCT = randomised control trial; RR = relative risk; TIA = transient ischaemic attack; VKA = vitamin K antagonist.