Published Online
on August 14, 2003

A more recent version of this article appeared on September 1, 2003

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Submitted on March 7, 2003
Accepted on April 1, 2003

Race-Ethnic Differences in Patent Foramen Ovale, Atrial Septal Aneurysm, and Right Atrial Anatomy Among Ischemic Stroke Patients

Carlos J. Rodriguez MD, MPH; Shunichi Homma MD^*; Ralph L. Sacco MS, MD; Marco R. Di Tullio MD; Robert R. Sciacca EngScD; J. P. Mohr MD; and for PICSS Investigators

From the Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology (C.J.R., S.H., M.R.D., R.R.S.), and the Neurological Institute (R.L.S., J.P.M.), Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: sh23{at}columbia.edu.

Background and Purpose--Stroke remains a substantial cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States. Racial differences in stroke incidence and mortality persist with well-known excesses among blacks. Information on stroke among Hispanics is limited. In particular, little is known about whether patent foramen ovale (PFO), atrial septal aneurysm (ASA), and other atrial anomalies associated with cryptogenic stroke differ among minority populations.

Methods--As a part of the PFO in Cryptogenic Stroke Study, transesophageal echocardiography was performed in a cohort of 630 ischemic stroke patients (mean age, 59±12 years; 44% women; 45% whites, 35% blacks, 17% Hispanics, 3% other). The prevalences of PFO, ASA, and right atrial (RA) anatomy favoring paradoxical embolization were compared among race-ethnic groups. Statistical analyses used analysis of variance for continuous variables and logistic regression for dichotomous variables with adjustments for age and sex.

Results--Age- and sex-adjusted prevalences of PFO and ASA were similar across race-ethnic subgroups. However, large PFO was significantly less prevalent among blacks than among whites (odds ratio, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.24 to 0.91; P=0.02). RA anatomy favoring paradoxical embolization was also significantly less prevalent among blacks compared with whites (odds ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.43 to 0.91; P=0.01). There were no significant differences in prevalence between whites and Hispanics.

Conclusions--Although the frequency of PFO did not vary among race-ethnic groups, a large PFO and RA anatomy favoring paradoxical embolization were significantly more prevalent among whites and Hispanics compared with blacks. These may be relatively more important risk factors for stroke among whites and Hispanics than among blacks.

Key words: echocardiography • epidemiology • ethnic groups • racial differences • stroke

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