Evaluation of the relation between arterial stiffness and risk of thromboembolism among stroke patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation

Evaluation of the Relation Between Arterial Stiffness and Risk of Thromboembolism Among Stroke Patients with Non Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Objective: Evaluating of the relation between arterial stiffness and risk of thromboembolism is unknown in stroke patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation. We aimed to present this relation with this study. Method: A total of 30 stroke patients with paroxysmal/persistent non valvular AF were enrolled in the study. CHA2DS2-VASc scores of the patients' before stroke was calculated; then arterial stiffness was measured with SphymoCor device in all patients. Carotis-femoral pulse wave velocity (carotis-femoral PWV), augmentation pressure (AP), augmentation index (AIx) and augmentation index normalized to heart rate (AIx@75) were used as arterial stiffness parameters. Carotis intima media thickness (CIMT) was measured in all patients. Afterwards, relations between CHA2DS2-VASc score, arterial stiffness and CIMT were evaluated. Results: Patients were classified into 2 groups by CHA2DS2-VASc score before stroke. Demographic features of the two groups were similar except age. As group with low CHA2D-VASc score (0,1) had significantly low carotis-femoral PWV also group with high CHA2D-VASc score (>2) had significantly high carotis-femoral PWV. In analyzes CHA2D-VASc score and carotis-femoral PWV were positively correlated. Conclusion: Carotis-femoral PWV and CHA2D-VASc score were significantly and linearly correlated. Considering PMV which is a measure of systemic atherosclerosis as a risk factor in vascular component of CHA2DS2-VASc score may significantly increase the power of this risk scoring method. Key words: Atrial fibrillation, arterial stiffness, pulse wave velocity, CHA2DS2-VASc