Kyoto University study links early heart rhythm control to lower stroke recurrence

A study published in the journal Neurology suggests that restoring normal heart rhythm within eight weeks of an ischemic stroke can significantly reduce the risk of subsequent strokes or blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Researchers at Kyoto University analyzed records from 14,355 patients in Japan, with an average age of 83, who experienced both AFib and an ischemic stroke. The study found that patients who received early rhythm control—through antiarrhythmic medication, electrical cardioversion, or catheter ablation—had an 8% rehospitalization rate for another stroke or systemic embolism over five years. In contrast, those who did not receive early rhythm control had a 14% rehospitalization rate.

After adjusting for factors such as frailty, stroke severity, and other illnesses, early rhythm control was associated with a 44% lower risk of recurrence. While the study shows a strong association, researchers noted it does not prove causation. Blood thinners remain the standard defense against secondary strokes for individuals with AFib.