According to a Mayo Clinic research, a hole in the upper chamber of the heart or patent foramen ovale (PFO) is not as significant in causing stroke in the general population, contradicting previous studies.

The new findings should prompt patients with PFOs and their physicians to carefully consider whether a closure procedure is necessary, says study author, Bijoy Khandheria, M.D. He expects the findings to be controversial in part because PFO closure procedures totaling $2 billion are performed annually.

Findings of the mayo clinic Study indicate that traditional cardiovascular risk factors are more important than PFO in contributing to cryptogenic strokes in the general population, particularly those over age 55, while PFO may play a more important role in causing cryptogenic stroke in younger patients.

Read more at EurekAlert.