Shi B, Liu D, Wang Q, et al. - After controlling for confounding factors, the cross-sectional study found no link between atrial fibrillation (AF) and ischemic stroke. Atherosclerotic factors reduced the increased risk of ischemic stroke associated with AF. The findings support the current consensus that improved control of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in patients with AF is critical.

• This cross-sectional study involved 2,335 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) from September 2016 to May 2019 at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University (mean age 62.73 ± 10.35 years, range 26–92 years; 41.58% female).

• The prevalence of AF in the ischemic stroke group was higher compared with that in the non-stroke group.

• The proportion of patients with ischemic stroke differed significantly between the AF and non-AF groups.

• A rising CHA ₂ DS ₂ -VASc score was linked to an increase in the prevalence of AF.

• The trend toward increased stroke risk in the AF group was consistent across all subgroups, according to subgroup analysis.

• The multivariable analysis revealed that, when compared with the absence of AF, AF was not associated with ischemic stroke.