Background: The prevalence and risk factors of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ischemic stroke in Northern Vietnam are not well understood. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify factors associated with AF in this population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2038 consecutive patients with TIA or ischemic stroke admitted to Bach Mai Hospital. AF was diagnosed using an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between AF and risk factors. Results: Among the patients, 18.1% (95% CI: 16.46 to 19.85) had AF. Older age, renal dysfunction, valvular heart disease (VHD), and low ejection fraction were significantly associated with AF. Advanced age (per 10 years) (adjusted OR, aOR 1.39; 95% CI, 1.23 to 1.57), estimated glomerular filtration ratio decrease (per 10 mL/min/1.73 m²) (aOR 1.12; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.17), VHD (aOR 9.59; 95% CI, 7.10 to 12.95), and low ejection fraction (<50%) (aOR 2.61; 95% CI, 1.62 to 4.21) had notable odds ratios for AF. Conclusions: Atrial fibrillation is prevalent among patients with TIA or ischemic stroke in Northern Vietnam, surpassing rates in other Southeast Asian countries. Age, renal dysfunction, VHD, and low ejection fraction were significant risk factors for AF in this population.

The optimal timing for carotid artery stenting (CAS) following ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) remains a matter of clinical controversy, particularly in Asian populations where data are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of early CAS in a high-risk Vietnamese cohort. We conducted a prospective observational study of 71 patients with symptomatic extracranial internal carotid artery stenosis who underwent CAS between January 2022 and December 2024. Eligible patients had either TIA or non-disabling ischemic stroke, and patients were categorized into early CAS (≤14 days from symptom onset) and delayed CAS (15–90 days). The primary outcome was the composite rate of stroke or death within 30 days. The mean age was 70.5 ± 8.6 years; 90.1% were male. A total of 42 patients underwent early CAS, and 29 underwent delayed CAS. The median time from index event to revascularization was 11 days, significantly shorter in the early group (7.5 days, interquartile range: 5–10) compared to the delayed group (30 days, interquartile range: 30–40) ( P < .01). Overall, the 30-day stroke/death rate was 7.04%, the early and delayed CAS groups had comparable outcomes (7.14% vs 6.90%; P = 1.00). Pre-CAS, 42.3% of patients experienced ≥1 ischemic event within 90 days, decreasing significantly to 7.0% in the 0 to 30 days post-CAS and 1.4% in the 31 to 90 days post-CAS ( P < .001). Our findings suggest that early CAS after ischemic stroke and TIA may be feasible and safe, showing comparable short-term outcomes to delayed CAS.