Incidence, clinical features and outcomes of atrial fibrillation and stroke in Qatar. Issue 1 (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Imam, Yahia Z; Kamran, Saadat; Akhtar, Naveed; Deleu, Dirk; Singh, Rajvir; Malik, Rayaz A; Abdelmoneim, MS; Bermejo, Pablo; Bourke, Paula; Morgan, Deborah; Santos, Mark; Joseph, Sujatha; Shuaib, Ashfaq
• Is Part Of: International journal of stroke. Volume 15:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 89
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: Stroke -- atrial fibrillation -- Qatar -- incidence -- outcome; 616.8005
• DOI: 10.1177/1747493019830577
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1747-4930

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation is an important risk factor for stroke but there are limited data on atrial fibrillation-related stroke from the Middle East. Methods: We interrogated the Qatar Stroke Database to establish the occurrence, clinical features, and outcomes of atrial fibrillation-related stroke at Hamad General Hospital, the sole provider of acute stroke care in Qatar. Results: A total of 4079 patients (81.4% male, mean age 55.4 ± 13.3 years) were enrolled in the stroke database between January 2014 and 21 October 2017. Atrial fibrillation was present in 260 (6.4%) patients, of whom 106 (2.6%) had newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was significantly higher (7.9 + 7.0 (median 6; IQR 11) vs. 5.9 + 6.4 (median 4; IQR 6), P < 0.001) in atrial fibrillation patients. The modified Rankin Score (mRS) (P < 0.001) and mortality at 90-day follow-up (P = 0.002) were significantly higher in atrial fibrillation compared to non-atrial fibrillation stroke patients. Conclusion: We demonstrate a low rate of atrial fibrillation and stroke in Qatar, perhaps reflecting the relatively young age of these patients. Atrial fibrillation-related strokes had higher admission NIHSS, greater disability, and higher mortality at 90 days when compared to non-atrial fibrillation strokes.