Menu

Secondary stroke prevention

Decorative element

One in four stroke survivors will experience another stroke within five years.1

Cryptogenic, large-vessel, and small-vessel stroke patients can benefit from insertable cardiac monitoring (ICM) for atrial fibrillation (AF) detection, which helps inform secondary stroke prevention strategies.

Up to 30% of cryptogenic stroke patients and 21.7% of large- and small-vessel stroke patients have undetected paroxysmal AF at three years post-stroke.2,3

The link between AF and stroke

Watch clinician experts explain the data they capture using the LINQ II™ ICM, and how they use that data to make clinical treatment decisions for their AF patients.

Patient outcomes

Cryptogenic stroke/TIA patients who underwent prolonged cardiac monitoring show a 55% decreased risk of recurrent stroke.4

Decorative element

Additionally, compared to external monitors, ICM use in cryptogenic stroke patients was associated with5:

  • Faster time to AF diagnosis
  • Faster time to oral anticoagulation initiation
  • Reduced readmissions
  • Reduced rate of mortality
Read outcomes summary (open in new window)

Why monitor longer?

When it comes to detecting AF in stroke patients, short-term monitoring is not enough. In fact, neurology and cardiology guidelines recommend long-term cardiac monitoring with ICMs for AF detection in cryptogenic stroke patients.6–9

Read guidelines overview (open in new window)

Randomized trials have shown that AF is diagnosed in stroke patients well beyond 30 days.

CRYSTAL-AF2

  • 30% of cryptogenic stroke patients have AF detected up to three years post-stroke.
  • 84 days median time to AF detection in cryptogenic stroke patients at 12 months.
  • 88% of cryptogenic stroke patients who had AF would have been missed if only monitored for 30 days.
CRYSTAL-AF study overview

STROKE AF3

  • 21.7% of large- and small-vessel stroke patients have AF detected up to three years post-stroke.
  • 99 days median time to AF detection in large- and small-vessel stroke patients at 12 months.
  • 87% of large- and small-vessel stroke patients with AF would have been missed if only monitored for 30 days.
STROKE AF study overview

PER DIEM10

  • 15.3% AF detected with Medtronic ICM versus 4.7% with 30-day external loop recorder.
  • 70% of patients with AF were detected beyond 30 days.
  • All study patients with a “definite AF/high probability” diagnosis were started on an oral anticoagulant.
PER DIEM study overview (open in new window)

Why ICMs for secondary stroke prevention?

Watch as experts discuss the role of ICMs for secondary stroke prevention.

LINQ II™ and Reveal LINQ™ insertable cardiac monitors shown horizontally

Discover Medtronic ICMs.

Accuracy matters. When finding and treating AF in a stroke patient could mean preventing a recurrent stroke, you need a cardiac monitor you can rely on. Medtronic ICMs are the most accurate ICMs on the market,11–23 and are proven three times more effective for AF detection post-stroke than 30-day external monitors.10

Studies have also demonstrated that Medtronic ICMs are cost-effective for the prevention of secondary stroke through AF detection and subsequent medical management in a U.S. cryptogenic stroke population. In fact, immediate Medtronic ICM placement post-stroke was found to be cost-effective versus the standard of care, and cost-saving versus using an external monitor first.24 There is also a 50.2% estimated decrease in patient out-of-pocket costs with an ICM compared to using a 30-day monitor first.25

Discover Medtronic ICMs

On-demand education

Watch webinars on secondary stroke prevention and the role of insertable cardiac monitoring.

View webinars (open in new window)

Establish a stroke pathway.

Get information about how to get started with creating a stroke pathway.

Stroke pathway planning guide

AHA/ASA Cryptogenic Stroke Initiative

Access educational resources for healthcare professionals and patients.

Find resources (open in new window)

Related products