What Is the Percentage of Ischemic Stroke of Cardioembolic Origin?
The percentage of ischemic stroke from cardioembolic origin is approximately 15-25%. Atrial fibrillation is the most common cause of cardioembolic stroke, accounting for nearly half of the cases. Among these cases, 70% have nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, 20%i have atrial fibrillation associated with rheumatic valve disease, and the remaining 10%) have no obvious heart disease (lone atrial fibrillation). As compared with people without atrial fibrillation, nonvalvular atrial fibrillation carries a 5-fold increase in the risk of stroke, while atrial fibrillation associated with rheumatic valve disease is associated with an approximately 18-fold increase in risk. Patients with lone atrial fibrillation are at lower risk for embolic complications (a 2- to 4-fold increase in risk).
