Atrial Cardiopathy Worsens Neurological Severity, Raises Recurrence Rates, and Leads to Poor Vascular Outcomes in Patients With Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source

초록

OBJECTIVE: Atrial cardiopathy (AC) has been studied for its significance in embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). This real-world study examines the relevance of AC in ESUS and its impact on stroke severity, recurrence, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). METHODS: We analyzed patients from stroke registries of South Korean centers (2014-2019) aged ≥20 years with acute ESUS or cardiogenic stroke without a definite embolic source. AC was defined by left atrial (LA) enlargement (diameter >40 mm in men and >38 mm in women; or LA volume index >34 mL/m2) or elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP, ≥250 pg/mL) levels. Patients were classified based on AC presence and stratified by the number of factors (AC groups 0, 1, and 2). Survival analysis in original and propensity score (PS)-matched cohorts assessed the impact of AC on stroke severity and vascular outcomes. RESULTS: Among 5,787 patients (65.9±13.9 years; female: 39.8%), 45.0% met the AC criteria (group 1: 40.3%, group 2: 4.7%). In the original cohort, AC group 2 was associated with increased stroke recurrence (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-2.92, P=0.03). After PS-matching, stroke recurrence remained significantly increased for AC (HR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.04-1.79, P=0.02) and group 2 (HR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.16-3.26, P=0.01). MACE outcomes increased in the group 2 patients (HR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.07-2.70, P=0.02). NT-proBNP (HR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.84-1.12, P=0.69) or LA enlargement (HR: 1.15, 95% CI: 0.89-1.49, P=0.28) alone were not predictive. AC correlated with longer hospital stays, and AC stratification with higher severity. CONCLUSIONS: Especially with multiple factors, AC was associated with adverse clinical outcome in patients with ESUS. These findings underscore the importance of AC stratification in the management of ESUS patients.

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