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Neurological Research and Practice

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Open Access 01-12-2019 | Stroke | Research article

Second look Holter ECG in neurorehabilitation

Authors: Stefan Knecht, Sebastian Petsch, Paulus Kirchhof, Bettina Studer

Published in: Neurological Research and Practice | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

Background

Many stroke survivors suffer recurrent stroke because paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) was missed and no preventive anticoagulation initiated. This prospective cohort study determined the added diagnostic yield of second-look 24-h electrocardiographic recording (ECG) in a population at high risk for AF: patients who suffered a stroke of such severity that they require inpatient neurorehabilitation.

Methods

We enrolled 508 patients with ischemic stroke admitted to post-acute inpatient neurorehabilitation and determined whether AF was detected during acute care at the referring hospital. Second-look baseline and 24-h Holter ECG were then conducted during neurorehabilitation. Primary outcome was number of newly detected AF with duration of > 30 s; secondary outcomes were number of newly detected absolute arrhythmia of 10–30 s and < 10 s duration. For comparison, we further enrolled 100 patients with hemorrhagic stroke without history of AF (age = 72 + 11 years, 51% female).

Results

In 206 of the 508 ischemic stroke patients, AF had been detected during acute phase work-up (age = 78 + 10 years, 55% female). For the remaining 302 ischemic stroke patients, no AF was detected during acute phase work-up (age = 74 + 9 years; 47% female). Second-look 24-h ECG showed previously missed AF of > 30 s in 20 of these patients, i.e. 6.6% of the sample, and shorter absolute arrhythmia in 50 patients (i.e. 16.5%).

Conclusions

Second-look 24-Hour ECG performed during post-acute inpatient neurorehabilitation has a high diagnostic yield and should become a standard component of recurrent stroke prevention.

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Title: Second look Holter ECG in neurorehabilitation
Authors: Stefan Knecht
Sebastian Petsch
Paulus Kirchhof
Bettina Studer
Publication date: 01-12-2019
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Stroke
Care
Atrial Fibrillation
Neurorehabilitation
Cerebral Hemorrhage
Published in: Neurological Research and Practice / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 2524-3489
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-019-0046-9

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Second look Holter ECG in neurorehabilitation

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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