Association of extracranial carotid arterial disease and chronic atrial fibrillation with the incidence of new thromboembolic stroke in 1,846 older persons

The prevalence of chronic atrial fibrillation increases with age.(1,2) Chronic atrial fibrillation is an independent risk factor for new thromboembolic (TE) stroke in older persons.(1,2) Extracranial carotid arterial disease (ECAD) is an independent risk factor for new atherothrombotic brain infarction in older persons.(3) We report the independent association of chronic atrial fibrillation and of 40% to 100% ECAD with the incidence of new TE stroke at 45-month follow-up in a prospective study of 1,846 older persons.