Arch Intern Med
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Chronic atrial fibrillation without valvular disease has been associated with increased stroke incidence. The impact of atrial fibrillation on the risk of stroke with increasing age was examined in 5184 men and women in the Framingham Heart Study. ⋯ The proportion of strokes associated with this arrhythmia was 14.7%, 68 of the total 462 initial strokes, increasing steadily with age from 6.7% for ages 50 to 59 years to 36.2% for ages 80 to 89 years. In contrast to the impact of cardiac failure, coronary heart disease, and hypertension, which declined with age, atrial fibrillation was a significant contributor to stroke at all ages.
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Three cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to ruptured developmental (berry) aneurysm are reported. Two patients presented with cardiac arrest and were successfully resuscitated, but the diagnosis of SAH was delayed and this most likely influenced poor final outcome. ⋯ The possible mechanisms responsible for SAH-triggered cardiac arrhythmia and/or respiratory arrest are discussed. Absence of previous cardiac history, persistent headache, focal neurologic findings (especially papilledema or subhyaloid hemorrhages) should warn the clinician of the possibility of SAH and warrant further neurologic investigation.