Atrial fibrillation predicts cognitive impairment in patients with ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is considered as a risk factor for cognitive impairment.

METHODS: This retrospective chart review study was conducted in a patient stroke rehabilitation ward of a university-affiliated referral hospital. The participants were 707 patients admitted for a standard rehabilitation course after an ischemic stroke. Cognitive status was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and scores lower than 24 points were considered as suggestive of cognitive impairment.

RESULTS: Atrial fibrillation, age, gender, diabetes, and dementia emerged as the only statistically significant parameters differing between those with MMSE score lower than 24 or higher. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, AF (odds ratio 1.6, 95% confidence interval 1.03-2.47, P = .03) was associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that atrial fibrillation upon admission is independently associated with lower MMSE scores in patients with ischemic stroke.