Recurrent Strokes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Treated With Direct Oral Anticoagulant Agents

Recurrent ischemic strokes (IS) in patients treated with direct oral anticoagulant agents (DOACs) are rare. Knowledge regarding the type of recurrent IS and predisposing factors is insufficient. We analyzed a cohort of 1001 patients (77.6 +/- 9.2 years; females: 57.1%) with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with DOACs as part of secondary prevention after initial IS or transient ischemic attack. Cardiovascular risk factors, stroke etiology, and Fazekas score based on computed tomography images at the time of the initial IS were assessed. Low Fazekas scores were defined as 0 or 1 and high scores were 2 or 3. Recurrent IS occurred in 46 patients (4.6%, annual rate 1.6%) during the observation period (2.8 +/- 1.8 years). Stroke was cardioembolic in 20 patients (43.5%), lacunar in 19 patients (37.5%) and large artery stroke in 6 patients (19.2%). Non-cardioembolic stroke was more common (75.0 vs 26.7%; P = .002) in patients with high Fazekas scores. Arterial hypertension was more frequent (P = .027) in patients with high (93.3%) vs low (68.8%) Fazekas scores. Recurrent IS was predominantly non-cardioembolic with higher Fazekas score and arterial hypertension as predisposing factors. The reported hypothesis-generating results regarding the clinical relevance of the Fazekas score should be further evaluated.