Cervicocerebral atherosclerosis and atrial fibrillation increase long-term mortality in ischemic stroke patients

This study of 406 acute ischemic stroke/TIA patients found that atrial fibrillation combined with high cervicocerebral atherosclerotic burden significantly increased 7-year mortality risk, with those having AF and high atherosclerosis burden facing approximately 3-fold greater mortality risk. The findings suggest that concurrent presence of these two vascular conditions substantially worsens long-term outcomes compared to either condition alone.