Relationship of cardiac disease to stroke occurrence, recurrence, and mortality.

Abstract

Significant independent predictors of death (Cox proportional-hazards analysis) were age, prior myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation present at onset of stroke, congestive heart failure before the stroke, and an age x congestive heart failure interaction. The only significant independent predictors of recurrent stroke were cardiac valve disease and congestive heart failure.