Troponin levels help predict new-onset atrial fibrillation in ischaemic stroke patients: a retrospective study.

Background: Elevated levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) have been reported in acute stroke and atrial fibrillation (AF). We tested a hypothesis in which the result of an initial cTnI assay helps predict new-onset AF (NAF) early in the course of ischaemic stroke in patients with sinus rhythm on admission.

Methods: This retrospective study included all patients admitted to our unit for acute ischaemic stroke between January 2006 and December 2007 (n = 402).