Stroke: atrial fibrillation was associated with a worse functional outcome.

Clinical bottom line (level 1b)

  1. Patients with a recent stroke requiring rehabilitation who had atrial fibrillation had a worse functional outcome.
Karatas et al: Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2000; 81 : 1025-1029
Expires November 2003

The study

Prospective cohort study with unblinded, unobjective outcomes, adjusted for confounding factors, not validated in an independent set of patients.

Setting: university-affiliated rehabilitation centres, Turkey

196 patients (aged mean 63, 56% male) with an acute stroke (confirmed on CT or MRI scan)

Excluded if
  • previous history of stroke
  • having rehabilitation at another centre
  • comorbid conditions preventing completion of rehabilitation program
  • subarachnoid haemorrhage
  • history of other neurological diseases, psychiatric diseases, or alcoholism


Factors studied:
  • initial functional scores, age, sex, stroke risk factors, time since stroke



    Logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for confounding factors

    ?100% followed for 30-35 days
    Outcomes studied:

    The evidence


    • Atrial fibrillation was independently associated with a lower functional outcome score (p = 0.02).

    Comments

    1. The study did not report odds ratios.

    Citation

    1. Karatas M, Dilek A, Erkan H, et al: functional outcome in stroke patients with atrial fibrillation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2000; 81 : 1025-1029
    Search Terms: from ACP Journal Club other articles noted
    Contributor: Chris Ball, November 2001
    Reviewer:

    Clinical Question.
    Patient recent stroke requiring rehabilitation
    Intervention or Exposure atrial fibrillation
    Outcome functional outcome - activities of daily living
    		•