Abstract: Objective To identify risk factors in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation(NVAF).Methods Retrospective analysis of our hospital records were performed from patients with primary diagnosis of AF, discharged from Jun. 2002 to Sep. 2003.Results The data of the patients with stroke in NVAF (n=159) was compared with those in NVAF without stroke ( n= 279). The effect of each variable on stroke was assessed with a logistic regression analysis. A total of 438 cases in NVAF were enrolled. Mean age was 69.4 years old. Univariate analysis showed that significant risk factors for stroke in patients with AF were age>75, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, history of congestive heart failure; old age, increased serum total cholesterol and glucose, high systolic and diastolic blood pressure, left ventricular dysfunction. In multivariate analysis, old age, history of hypertension, left ventricular dysfunction was independently associated with stroke. It was 66.5% of our patients who received antithrombotic therapy with dominated use of antiplatelet agents.Conclusion Our analysis suggests that old age, history of hypertension, left ventricular dysfunction (EF<50%)are independent risk factors, which should be considered when decision of long-term anticoagulation therapy to prevent stroke in NVAF is to be made. It was 66.5% of our patients who received antithrombotic therapy with dominated use of antiplatelet agents. Therefore it is advisable to enforce the control of AF.

Key words: atrial fibrillation, cerebrovascular accident, risk factors