Abnormally high risk of stroke in Brugada syndrome

BACKGROUND The present study sought to evaluate the incidence of cerebrovascular events in a large cohort of patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) analysing possible predictors, clinical characteristics and prognosis of cardioembolic events secondary to atrial fibrillation. METHODS A total of 671 consecutive patients (age 42.1 ± 17.0 years; men 63%) with a diagnosis of BrS were retrospectively analysed over a mean follow-up period of 10.8 ± 5.5 years. The diagnosis of ischemic stroke was made according to the AHA/ASA guidelines using computed tomography (CT) and angio-CT in the emergency department. RESULTS Among 671 patients with BrS, 79 (11.8%) had atrial fibrillation. The incidence of cardioembolic stroke in patients with BrS and atrial fibrillation was 13.9% (11 events). These patients had a low CHA2DS2Vasc score (82%, 0 and 1). Patients with transient ischemic attack/stroke were more frequently asymptomatic (91 vs. 25%; P