Stroke with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter: a descriptive population-based study from the Brest stroke registry.

Background: In the 1990s, epidemiological studies estimated the prevalence of stroke caused by atrial fibrillation (AF) at about 15 %. Given the aging population, there is a rise in the number of AF patients. AF prevention guidelines based on clinical practice and the literature have been published and updated since 2001.