title: Anticoagulant treatment of atrial fibrillation in the elderly.
abstract: There is now adequate clinical evidence that the most appropriate treatment of elderly patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation is with low dose warfarin. Patients may have contraindications to therapy with this agent, but should not be denied treatment based on age alone. Withholding treatment based on age places patients at unwarranted risk for severely disabling thromboembolic complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66103.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Blackburn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications*; D000075202:Contraindications; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014859:Warfarin; D001241:Aspirin