Multiple heart monitoring in stroke patients can prevent further strokes

Heart CAT scanDr. Luciano Sposato, recently recruited associate professor, Neurology, wants to raise awareness about the importance of more extensive testing for atrial fibrillation— heart rhythm disturbances— following a stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Dr. Sposato led the review of 50 studies from four continents that showed that almost 34 per cent of stroke patients with no history of atrial fibrillation can be newly diagnosed with the condition when using multiple cardiac monitoring methods sequentially—more than double previous estimates based on only one or two methods of diagnosis.

Detection of atrial fibrillation after stroke is crucial for preventing further strokes in these patients.

“My hope is that physicians treating stroke patients will be more aware about the importance of pursuing more intensive cardiac monitoring for patients following stroke,” said Dr. Sposato. “This may have a direct impact on the number of patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and the number of stroke survivors receiving oral anticoagulants to prevent further strokes.”