Open AccessDiabetes and silent atrial fibrillation: A dangerous liaison?
Author(s) -
Jassim Al Suwaidi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
global cardiology science and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2305-7823
DOI - 10.5339/gcsp.2014.50
Subject(s) - medicine , atrial fibrillation , stroke (engine) , subclinical infection , diabetes mellitus , cardiology , risk factor , ischemic stroke , ischemia , endocrinology , mechanical engineering , engineering
Diabetic patients have higher risk of stroke when compared to non-diabetics and in 25% of patients the cause of stroke is unknown. Marfella et al hypothesized that subclinical episodes of atrial fibrillation may be a common etiologic factor. 464 type-2 diabetic patients were compared to 240 health controls and were followed-up for 37 months. Silent cerebral infarcts at baseline were more common among diabetic patients with silent AF (176 patients) when compared to non-silent AF group (288 patients) (61% vs. 29%; p < 0.001) and was associated with higher number of stroke at follow-up.