Short-Term Outcome in Stroke Patients with or without Atrial Fibrillation: A Retrospective Case-Control Study

Abstract

Background. Patients with cardioembolic stroke due to atrial fibrillation (CE/AF stroke) seem to have a poorer functional recovery than those with non cardioembolic stroke. This may be ascribed to the heterogeneity between the samples of patients with and without CE/AF stroke. Aim . To compare the short-term outcome of patients with CE/AF stroke and with non-CE/AF stroke of same gender and similar age and level of disability and comorbidity. Methods . The functional independence measure (FIM) of 40 consecutive patients with CE/AF stroke was retrospectively evaluated at admission and discharge in our rehabilitation department. Each “case” was matched with a patient (“control”) of the same sex and similar age and FIM score at admission, affected by non-CE/AF stroke admitted to our department in the same period. Results . FIM score at admission and discharge was respectively and in patients with CE/AF stroke and and in patients with non-CE/AF stroke; no significant difference was found between the groups. Multivariate analysis showed an effect of the rehabilitation treatment and age on FIM score, whereas no effect was attributable to AF. Conclusions . The short-term outcome is similar in patients with and without CE/AF stroke.