The risk of myocardial infarction in patients with atrial fibrillation: an unresolved issue

Abstract

[No abstract available

Plasma von Willebrand Factor Levels Are an Independent Risk Factor for Adverse Events Including Mortality and Major Bleeding in Anticoagulated Atrial Fibrillation Patients

“…During the follow-up period in the present study, we observed a rate of thrombotic events of 5.0% per year, including 1.7% per year for stroke, 1.9% per year for acute coronary syndrome, and 1.5% for acute heart failure. The incidence of stroke in AF patients with adjusted oral anticoagulation ranges from 1.2% to 2.0% per year (26), whereas the rate of fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction ranges from 0.5% to 4% per year (27).…”

Thromboembolism or Atherothromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation?

“…11 In an analysis of trials in which the rate of MI was recorded, the occurrence of MI was, however, relatively close to stroke; particularly in AF patients >70 years of age, the event rate was sometimes even higher. 8 The coexistence of atherosclerosis with AF has an important impact for favoring not only atherothrombotic-related clinical events but also the occurrence of AF itself. Prospective studies demonstrated that patients with or at risk of atherosclerosis are more prone to experiencing AF.…”

“…Patients with AF often have different risk factors of atherothrombosis, including hypertension, which may be detected in ≈70% to 80% of the population, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia. 8 Thus, risk factors for systemic atherosclerosis are associated with AF. Atherosclerosis is associated with stroke.…”

Flow-mediated dilation is associated with cardiovascular events in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients

“…In fact, prospective studies demonstrated that patients with risk factors for atherosclerosis are more prone to experiencing this arrhythmia [6,7]. Furthermore, the coexistence of atherosclerotic risk factors may explain why patients with AF may suffer from coronary events with a rate of ischemic heart disease [8] twice than people without AF [8,9].…”