A recent scientific study showed that restoring normal heart rhythm within the first eight weeks after an ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation is associated with a reduced risk of another stroke or blood clots, highlighting the importance of evaluating heart rhythm disorders in the context of preventing stroke recurrence.
The American Academy of Neurology, in a report published yesterday Wednesday on its website, stated that the study was published in the journal "Neurology," the official journal of the Academy, led by researcher Yuichi Imanaka from Kyoto University in Japan, and funded by the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science.
Study Details and Participants
The study included 14,355 patients admitted to hospitals after suffering an ischemic stroke, who also suffered from atrial fibrillation, a disorder that causes irregular heartbeats and can increase the risk of blood clots forming that can travel to the brain.
268 patients, or about two percent of participants, received early treatment to restore normal heart rhythm within the first eight weeks after the stroke. Treatment options included medications, electrical cardioversion, and catheter ablation.
Statistical Results
The results showed that the rate of another stroke or blood clot over five years was about eight percent among patients who received early treatment, compared to 14 percent among those who did not. Early intervention was also associated with a 44% relative reduction in the risk of these events.
Researchers also observed an association between early treatment and a 28% lower risk of death from all causes, after adjusting for several factors, including comorbidities, stroke severity, and the overall health status of patients.
Warnings and Recommendations
Researchers emphasized that the study does not prove that early restoration of normal heart rhythm is the direct cause of the reduced risk of stroke recurrence, due to its observational nature and the small number of patients who received early treatment. They pointed to the need for additional studies involving larger groups to verify the results.
The study highlights the importance of evaluating the timing of atrial fibrillation treatment after a stroke, alongside continuing to apply other preventive measures according to each patient's condition and doctors' recommendations.
Ischemic stroke is a type of stroke that occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain becomes blocked, usually by a blood clot, leading to reduced blood and oxygen flow to part of the brain, which can cause brain cell damage.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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