Troponin Levels Help Predict New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Ischaemic Stroke Patients: A Retrospective Study

Publisher： Karger

E-ISSN： 1421-9913|63|1|24-28

ISSN： 0014-3022

Source： European Neurology, Vol.63, Iss.1, 2009-11, pp. : 24-28

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Abstract

Background: Elevated levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) have been reported in acute stroke and atrial fibrillation (AF). We tested a hypothesis in which the result of an initial cTnI assay helps predict new-onset AF (NAF) early in the course of ischaemic stroke in patients with sinus rhythm on admission. Methods: This retrospective study included all patients admitted to our unit for acute ischaemic stroke between January 2006 and December 2007 (n = 402). NAF was defined as AF discovered during cardiac monitoring in patients with sinus rhythm on admission. Elevated cTnI was defined as a value ≧0.03 µg/l. Results: 27 (6.7%) patients had NAF. In a univariate analysis, age (70.8 in patients with NAF vs. 64.6 years in patients without NAF, respectively; p = 0.024), smoking status (3.5 vs. 25.3%; p = 0.009), total anterior circulation infarcts (18.5 vs. 5.9%; p = 0.03) and elevated cTnI levels (63.0 vs. 29.9%; p = 0.001) were associated with NAF. Stepwise logistic regression identified elevated cTnI levels (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.81–9.33; p = 0.001)and active smoking (OR 0.11; 95% CI 0.01–0.82; p = 0.03) as independent factors for NAF. Conclusion: Moderately elevated troponin levels in acute ischaemic stroke are independently associated with NAF.