Lancet neurology
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Review Meta Analysis
Diagnosis of atrial fibrillation after stroke and transient ischaemic attack: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Among patients with atrial fibrillation, the risk of stroke is highest for those with a history of stroke; however, oral anticoagulants can lower the risk of recurrent stroke by two-thirds. No consensus has been reached about how atrial fibrillation should be investigated in patients with stroke, and its prevalence after a stroke remains uncertain. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the proportion of patients newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation after four sequential phases of cardiac monitoring after a stroke or transient ischaemic attack. ⋯ Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada.