Independent predictors of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Absolute stroke rates vary widely among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. To balance the benefits and risks of chronic antithrombotic prophylaxis, it is important to estimate the absolute risk of stroke for individual patients. METHODS: Systematic review of studies using multivariate regression techniques to identify independent risk factors for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation was conducted, and reports of …