Patent Foramen Ovale and the Risk of Ischemic Stroke in a Multiethnic Population

Patent Foramen Ovale and the Risk of Ischemic Stroke in a Multiethnic Population Marco R. Di Tullio, Ralph L. Sacco, Robert R. Sciacca, Zhezhen Jin, Shunichi Homma The ischemic stroke risk associated with a patent foramen ovale (PFO) was evaluated in a multiethnic cohort of 1,100 stroke-free subjects. Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast injection was used for the detection of PRO. During a mean follow-up of 79.7 ± 28.0 months, PFO was not found to be significantly associated with ischemic stroke after adjustment for demographics and other stroke risk factors (hazard ratio 1.64, 95% confidence interval 0.87 to 3.09). The coexistence of PFO with atrial septal aneurysm did not increase the stroke risk. Therefore, the PFO-related stroke risk in the general population appears low. Subgroups of subjects at increased risk may exist.