[Hypertension and age over 70 years are the two most important risk factors for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation].

In a registry of 250 patients treated for atrial fibrillation (160 recurrent, 90 permanent forms), we prospectively looked for associated risk factors for cerebrovascular complications. After a 4-years follow-up, 19 patients had presented a cerebral accident (13 strokes, 4 transient ischemic attacks, 2 cerebral hemorrhages). Prognostic factors for cerebrovascular complications were hypertension, valvular heart disease, and age > or = 70 years. When restricting the analysis to stroke and transient ischemic attacks, prognostic factors were limited to hypertension and age > or = 70 years. In conclusion, hypertension and age > or = 70 years are the main independent risk factors for cerebral ischemic attacks in out-of-hospital patients treated for atrial fibrillation.