Left atrial enlargement is an independent predictor of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Yasuhiro Hamatani, Hisashi Ogawa, Kensuke Takabayashi, Yugo Yamashita, Daisuke Takagi, Masahiro Esato, Yeong-Hwa Chun, Hikari Tsuji, Hiromichi Wada, Koji Hasegawa, Mitsuru Abe, Gregory Y H Lip, Masaharu Akao

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Abstract

Controversy exists regarding whether left atrial enlargement (LAE) is a predictor of stroke/systemic embolism (SE) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. The Fushimi AF Registry, a community-based prospective survey, enrolled all AF patients in Fushmi-ku, Japan, from March 2011. Follow-up data and baseline echocardiographic data were available for 2,713 patients by August 2015. We compared backgrounds and incidence of events over a median follow-up of 976.5 days between patients with LAE (left atrial diameter > 45 mm; LAE group) and those without in the Fushimi AF Registry. The LAE group accounted for 39% (n = 1,049) of cohort. The LAE group was older and had longer AF duration, with more prevalent non-paroxysmal AF, higher CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASc score, and oral anticoagulant (OAC) use. A higher risk of stroke/SE during follow-up in the LAE group was found (entire cohort; hazard ratio (HR): 1.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40-2.64; p < 0.01; without OAC; HR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.18-3.25; p < 0.01; with OAC; HR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.21-2.82; p < 0.01). LAE was independently associated with increased risk of stroke/SE (HR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.25-2.42; p < 0.01) after adjustment by the components of CHA2DS2-VASc score and OAC use. In conclusion, LAE was an independent predictor of stroke/SE in large community cohort of AF patients.

Original languageEnglish
Article number31042
JournalScientific Reports
Volume6
Number of pages8
ISSN2045-2322
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

Keywords

  • Journal Article

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