Introduction
Stroke is a major cause of death and disability worldwide.
Some pre-existing medical conditions (e.g., atrial
fibrillation [AF] and diabetes) directly influence stroke
outcomes.Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syn
that results from structural or functional impairmendromet
of ventricular filling or reduction in the ability of the ventricle
to eject blood.3 The prevalence of HF is approximately
10 per 1000 after 65 years of age,4 increasing to over 80
per 1000 populations among those aged 85 years and older.5
HF carries high mortality with 1-year mortality of approximately
30%-45%.6 After the onset of HF, only 50%
will survive in 5 years.7 Similarly, mortality is 2-fold higher
in stroke patients with HF compared to those without
HF.8-10 With the growth in the aging population, the increasing
prevalence of stroke and HF in patients is
expected. However, there is not much known about acute
ischemic stroke (AIS) with HF. The aim of our study was
to evaluate (1) clinical characteristics, predisposing factors,
and outcomes in patients who have AIS with HF and
(2) to determine if HF is an independent predictor of stroke
outcomes.