Multiple risk factors cancel impact of atrial fibrillation on ischemic stroke risk

(European Society of Cardiology) The impact of atrial fibrillation on ischemic stroke risk in elderly patients is eliminated with multiple risk factors, according to an 11-year study in more than 425,000 patients presented at ESC Congress today. The findings suggest that stroke prevention in the elderly may need to focus on the concomitant effects of multiple risk factors rather than on a specific risk factor such as atrial fibrillation.