Left Atrial Function in Recurrent Stroke of Unknown Cause

Stroke Clinical Trial

Official title: Left Atrial Function as Predictor of Recurrent Stroke or Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Cryptogenic Stroke

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Stroke is an important cause of disability and the third leading cause of death.

Approximately 30 to 40 % of all strokes are estimated to be cryptogenic (i.e. no cause can be found). There have been few previous studies regarding risk stratification for stroke recurrence in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Recent studies have suggested that left atrial (LA) function is an important determinant of stroke risk. However, most studies focus on volume indices and LA dimensions, we also want to investigate other echocardiographic parameters. The aim of this study is to assess the predictive value of left atrial function for the risk of stroke recurrence and/or atrial fibrillation by transthoracic echocardiography in cryptogenic stroke patients with no proven atrial fibrillation (AF) and no indication for anticoagulants.

Clinical Trial Description

Study design and population The investigators used a retrospective mono-centric case-control design and analyzed all patients admitted for cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) between 2011 and 2014. The investigators searched for patients who had a recurrent CVA/TIA and/or who were diagnosed with newly documented AF during the study duration. Clinical, demographic and laboratory parameters were assessed. Echocardiographic parameters, measured on first admission, were analyzed using EchoPAC version 112.

Statistical analysis Univariate analysis was performed for all covariates using the Cox proportional hazards model. Likelihood ratio tests were used to determine significance for all parameters.

If covariates were significant at the 25% significance level, they were used in the multivariate model.

Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model with backward elimination model selection. The Wald Chi-Square test was used to determine significance at 5% significance level. The program used for analysis is SAS version 9.4. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Stroke

• NCT number: NCT02968329
• Study type: Observational
• Source: Hasselt University
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 2016
• Completion date: April 2017