{
  "abstract": "Background. Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia, associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke and mortality. Neuroimaging has shown a high prevalence of cerebral small vessel disease markers in AF patients, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Objectives. To investigate the association between microangiopathic and non-microangiopathic neuroimaging markers of cerebrovascular damage and cardiac morphological features in elderly atrial fibrillation patients on oral anticoagulants. Methods. We performed a cross-sectional analysis within the Strat-AF 2 study. From March 2021 to June 2022, we consecutively enrolled patients >65 years with AF on oral anticoagulants for thromboembolic prevention. All underwent clinical assessment, neuroimaging (magnetic resonance imaging, or computed tomography scan), and echocardiography. Results. A total of 179 patients were included (mean age 78.6 ± 6.7 years, 58% male): 100 underwent magnetic resonance imaging and 79 computed tomography. Non-lacunar infarcts were present in 26%, while 79.3% showed at least one cerebral small vessel disease marker. Mean indexed left atrial volume was 48.5 ± 19.8 mL/m². In multivariate analysis, non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was independently associated with non-lacunar infarcts (OR 2.95; 95% CI 1.07–8.12; p=0.036). Larger left atrial volume was independently associated with both moderate-to-severe medial temporal lobe atrophy (OR 1.025 per mL/m²; 95% CI 1.003–1.047; p=0.024) and lacunes (OR 1.008; 95% CI 1.010–1.017; p=0.05). Conclusions. In elderly AF patients on OAC, cardiac structural parameters were associated with both microangiopathic and non-microangiopathic brain lesions, even in the absence of prior ischemic stroke. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm and clarify these associations.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Francesco Alfano"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ery8sfd7attr1.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": null,
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.btvb.org/btvb/article/view/958",
  "id": "ery8sfd7attr1",
  "issns": [
    "2785-5309"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.btvb.org/btvb/article/view/958",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "RC666-701"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-26",
  "publisher": "PAGEPress Publications",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ery8sfd7attr1.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:47:27Z",
      "native_id": "38f0d00b27454bdeae2088ed56539e38",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://www.btvb.org/btvb/article/view/958"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "lcc:RC666-701",
      "subfield": "cardiovascular"
    }
  ],
  "title": "PO142 | CROSS-TALK BETWEEN HEART AND BRAIN IN ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN CARDIAC REMODELING AND CEREBROVASCULAR LESION BURDEN IN THE STRAT-AF STUDY",
  "title_text": "PO142 | CROSS-TALK BETWEEN HEART AND BRAIN IN ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN CARDIAC REMODELING AND CEREBROVASCULAR LESION BURDEN IN THE STRAT-AF STUDY",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:47:27Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ery8sfd7attr1",
  "venue": "Bleeding, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology",
  "versions": []
}