Stroke Prevention In Ischemic Stroke With Covert Atrial Fibrillation

Patients who have recently had an ischemic stroke with no clear cause might have undetected atrial fibrillation (AF) that isn't caught during their initial hospital stay. After discharge, these patients are typically monitored for AF using devices like Holter monitors or implantable loop recorders. Treatment options during this period include anticoagulants or aspirin. Anticoagulants are more effective in preventing recurrent strokes if AF is present, offering an 80% risk reduction compared to aspirin's 20%. If AF is detected, anticoagulant treatment continues; if not, patients may switch to aspirin after 6-12 months. Despite the clinical rationale for using anticoagulants during this search period, their benefit-risk ratio compared to aspirin has not been fully evaluated.