What are the risks associated with Atrial Fibrillation (AF)?
Individuals with AF have increased risk of stroke (fourfold to vefold increase), HF (twofold to threefold fold increase), and mortality (twofold increase). Patients with AF also experience higher rates of morbidity and hospital admissions, as well as early dementia. The high AF-attributable risk of stroke, especially in the elderly, is evident since at least 1 in 3 to 4 individuals with an ischemic stroke, and > 80% of those with ischemic stroke of cardioembolic subtype, also have AF.