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Guo J, Wang D, Jia J, Zhang J, Liu Y, Lu J, Tian Y, Zhao X. Patterns of atrial fibrillation, relevant cardiac structural and functional changes predict functional and cognitive outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation. Int J Cardiol 2024; 407:131966. [PMID: 38490273 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2024.131966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) pattern, relevant cardiac changes are important predictors of outcomes in AF, but their impact on patients with ischemic stroke and AF remained unclear. We aimed to explore the impact of AF patterns, cardiac structural and functional markers on long-term functional and cognitive outcomes in ischemic stroke patients with AF. METHODS Ischemic stroke patients diagnosed with AF were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. AF pattern was defined by both traditional and novel classification, in which patients were divided into AF diagnosed after stroke (AFDAS) and known before stroke (KAF). Left atrial (LA) diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cardiac troponin (cTnI) were dichotomized according to the median value. Outcomes include poor functional outcome and cognitive impairment at the 1-year follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to validate the association between AF pattern, parameters of cardiac change and functional and cognitive outcome. RESULTS A total of 377 patients were included. Non-paroxysmal AF patients had a higher risk of poor functional outcome (OR = 3.59, P < 0.0001) and cognitive impairment (OR = 2.38, P = 0.019) than paroxysmal AF patients, while there were no differences between AFDAS and KAF. Lower LVEF (OR = 1.83, P = 0.045) and higher BNP (OR = 2.66, P = 0.001) were associated with poor functional outcome. Lower LVEF (OR = 2.86, P = 0.004), higher LA diameter (OR = 2.72, P = 0.008) and BNP (OR = 2.31, P = 0.023) were associated with cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS AF type and related cardiac markers can serve as predictors for poor functional and cognitive outcomes. Comprehensive cardiac assessment and monitoring should be strengthened after stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahuan Guo
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Dandan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaokun Jia
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanfang Liu
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingjing Lu
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Tian
- DeZhou HTRM cardiovascular hospital, Shandong province, China.
| | - Xingquan Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Research Unit of Artificial Intelligence in Cerebrovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Center of Stroke, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.
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Petersen M, Chevalier C, Naegele FL, Ingwersen T, Omidvarnia A, Hoffstaedter F, Patil K, Eickhoff SB, Schnabel RB, Kirchhof P, Schlemm E, Cheng B, Thomalla G, Jensen M. Mapping the interplay of atrial fibrillation, brain structure, and cognitive dysfunction. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:4512-4526. [PMID: 38837525 PMCID: PMC11247702 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an elevated risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Understanding the cognitive sequelae and brain structural changes associated with AF is vital for addressing ensuing health care needs. METHODS AND RESULTS We examined 1335 stroke-free individuals with AF and 2683 matched controls using neuropsychological assessments and multimodal neuroimaging. The analysis revealed that individuals with AF exhibited deficits in executive function, processing speed, and reasoning, accompanied by reduced cortical thickness, elevated extracellular free-water content, and widespread white matter abnormalities, indicative of small vessel pathology. Notably, brain structural differences statistically mediated the relationship between AF and cognitive performance. DISCUSSION Integrating a comprehensive analysis approach with extensive clinical and magnetic resonance imaging data, our study highlights small vessel pathology as a possible unifying link among AF, cognitive decline, and abnormal brain structure. These insights can inform diagnostic approaches and motivate the ongoing implementation of effective therapeutic strategies. Highlights We investigated neuropsychological and multimodal neuroimaging data of 1335 individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF) and 2683 matched controls. Our analysis revealed AF-associated deficits in cognitive domains of attention, executive function, processing speed, and reasoning. Cognitive deficits in the AF group were accompanied by structural brain alterations including reduced cortical thickness and gray matter volume, alongside increased extracellular free-water content as well as widespread differences of white matter integrity. Structural brain changes statistically mediated the link between AF and cognitive performance, emphasizing the potential of structural imaging markers as a diagnostic tool in AF-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin Petersen
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Céleste Chevalier
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Luebeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Felix L Naegele
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thies Ingwersen
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Amir Omidvarnia
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behaviour (INM-7), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Felix Hoffstaedter
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behaviour (INM-7), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Kaustubh Patil
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behaviour (INM-7), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behaviour (INM-7), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Renate B Schnabel
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Luebeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Paulus Kirchhof
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Luebeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eckhard Schlemm
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bastian Cheng
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Götz Thomalla
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Märit Jensen
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Barkhordarian M, Montazerin SM, Tran HHV, Amin T, Frishman WH, Aronow WS. Atrial Fibrillation and Cognitive Disorders. Cardiol Rev 2024:00045415-990000000-00280. [PMID: 38814075 DOI: 10.1097/crd.0000000000000733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence of atrial fibrillation among older adults is increasing. Research has indicated that atrial fibrillation is linked to cognitive impairment disorders such as Alzheimer and vascular dementia, as well as Parkinson disease. Various mechanisms are believed to be shared between atrial fibrillation and cognitive impairment disorders. The specific pathologies and mechanisms of different cognitive disorders are still being studied. Potential mechanisms include cerebral hypoperfusion, ischemic or hemorrhagic infarction, and cerebrovascular reactivity to carbon dioxide. Additionally, circulatory biomarkers and certain infectious organisms appear to be involved. This review offers an examination of the overlapping epidemiology between atrial fibrillation and cognitive disorders, explores different cognitive disorders and their connections with this arrhythmia, and discusses trials and guidelines for preventing and treating atrial fibrillation in patients with cognitive disorders. It synthesizes existing knowledge on the management of atrial fibrillation and identifies areas that require further investigation to bridge the gap in understanding the complex relationship between dementia and atrial fibrillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Barkhordarian
- From the Department of Internal Medicine, Hackensack Meridian Health- Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ
| | - Sahar Memar Montazerin
- Department of Internal Medicine, New York Medical College, Saint Michael Medical Center, Newark, NJ
| | - Hadrian Hoang-Vu Tran
- From the Department of Internal Medicine, Hackensack Meridian Health- Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ
| | - Toka Amin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens Hospital, New York, NY
| | | | - Wilbert S Aronow
- Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY
- Departments of Cardiology and Medicine, Westchester Medical Center and New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY
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Blum S, Conen D. Mechanisms and Clinical Manifestations of Cognitive Decline in Atrial Fibrillation Patients: Potential Implications for Preventing Dementia. Can J Cardiol 2023; 39:159-171. [PMID: 36252904 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2022.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients face an approximate 1.5-fold increased risk of cognitive decline compared with the general population. Among poststroke AF patients, the risk of cognitive decline is even higher with an estimated threefold increase. This article provides a narrative review on the current evidence and highlights gaps in knowledge and areas for future research. Although earlier studies hypothesized that the association between AF and cognitive decline is mainly a consequence of previous ischemic strokes, more recent evidence also suggests such an association in AF patients without a history of clinical stroke. Because AF and cognitive decline mainly occur among elderly individuals, it is not surprising that both entities share multiple risk factors. In addition to clinically overt ischemic strokes, silent brain infarcts and other brain injury are likely mechanisms for the increased risk of cognitive decline among AF patients. Oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention in AF patients with additional stroke risk factors is one of the only proven therapies to prevent brain injury. Whether a broader use of oral anticoagulation, or more intense anticoagulation in some patients are beneficial in this context needs to be addressed in future studies. Although direct studies are lacking, it is reasonable to recommend optimal treatment of comorbidities and risk factors for the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Blum
- Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Conen
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
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