The Impact of Heart Failure and Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Predicting Stroke, Thromboembolism, and Mortality in Atrial Fibrillation Patients: A Systematic Review

LV systolic impairment as identified by echocardiography is an independent risk factor for stroke/SE, although the magnitude by which it increases the risk of stroke cannot be precisely quantified. Whether a clinical diagnosis of HF is a significant risk factor remains inconclusive, although when the diagnosis is certain (recent decompensation requiring hospitalization), it does seem to be a significant risk factor irrespective of LV systolic function.