Dr. Sanjiv M. Narayan is a respected presence in the atrial fibrillation (AF) research community who has developed novel mapping techniques and serves as Stanford University professor. Focused on developments in his field, Dr. Sanjiv Narayan stays informed on the latest studies on AF diagnosis and treatment approaches.
As noted on the Harvard University health website, a recent study published by JAMA Cardiology (May 2018) brought focus to the risks of stroke presented by atrial fibrillation episodes, which involve an irregular and chaotic heart rhythm. With such episodes lasting anywhere from minutes to weeks, the condition is described as encouraging formation of blood clots within the heart.
The study involved 2,000 paroxysmal (intermittent) AF patients, who were not on anti-clotting drugs, wearing a skin patch that provided continuous heart rate monitoring over a two-week period. Over the next five years, participants' stroke incidences were monitored, with a core finding being that atrial fibrillation episodes lasting more than 11 percent of the total time were associated with increased stroke incidence three times that of the baseline.
The research suggests that even intermittent AF bouts can have a significant impact in elevating the risk of stroke. Further studies are needed to determine better ways of evaluating specific prevention strategies that minimize the stroke risk burden.
