Bahit MC, Sacco RL, Easton JD, et al. - Independent predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF) after embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) are: age (the most important variable), hypertension, higher body mass index, and lack of diabetes.

• Among 5,390 ESUS patients enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial (RE-SPECT ESUS: assessing dabigatran vs aspirin for recurrent stroke prevention in ESUS), 403 (7.5%) suffered AF.

• Multivariable model revealed odds ratio [OR] of 1.99 (for 10-year increase), 1.36, 0.74, and 1.29 (for 5-unit increase) for older age, hypertension, diabetes, and body mass index, respectively.

• Subsequent AF was predicted by only older age and elevation of N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) when baseline NT-proBNP was available.