Atrial premature complex burden as a risk stratification predictor of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and embolic stroke.

INTRODUCTION

Investigating the aetiology of cryptogenic stroke is challenging. Occult paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) is likely a significant contributor, but is often missed by standard 24 h cardiac monitoring. Atrial premature complexes (APC) are markers of atrial myopathy and predictors of AF. We employ 14-day ambulatory cardiac monitoring as a novel monitoring modality to assess the association between APC burden and pAF. In the absence of pAF detection, APC burden may be a useful surrogate marker for risk stratification in patients with embolic stroke.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected data from April 2022 to October 2023 on adults (≥18 years) with confirmed or suspected stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) who underwent 14-day cardiac monitoring using Zio XT® (iRhythm Technologies, UK). Patients with 100 % atrial fibrillation (AF) burden were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 454 patients (male: 268, 59 %; median age: 67 years [IQR: 56-76]) were included. 29 were diagnosed with pAF. In adjusted analysis, APC runs >20 was associated with a 270 % increase in the odds of pAF (OR: 3.70, 95 % CI: 1.47-9.36, p < 0.01), with APC runs >110 showing the strongest association (OR: 7.71, 95 % CI: 2.49-23.86, p = 0.04). High APC burden showed a strong correlation with radiologically embolic appearing strokes with increasing strength of association with higher APC run counts [APC runs >20 was associated with 265 % increased odds of embolic stroke (OR: 3.65, 95 % CI: 2.06-6.46, p < 0.01)]. Age and hypertension were significant predictors of pAF, while obesity and smoking were not significant.

DISCUSSION

The presence and burden of APC run are strongly associated with embolic strokes. High APC burden displays similar aetiological stroke presentation to those with pAF. This appears to be distinct from those with low APC burden, where the majority had alternative identified aetiology. This is likely due to downstream consequences of atrial myopathy. In the absence of pAF, APC identification may be important in the diagnostic and therapeutic considerations of cryptogenic stroke patients.