title: Atrial fibrillation, anticoagulation, and stroke.
abstract: There is a demonstrated statistical association between atrial fibrillation, rheumatic valvular disease, and embolic stroke. This article assesses the results of 6 major clinical trials (AFASAK, BAATAF, SPINAF, SPAF [parts I and II], CAFA and EAFTA--see text for trial names). Multivariate analysis revealed 4 independent clinical features that identified patients with atrial fibrillation at an increased risk for stroke: hypertension, increasing age, previous transient ischemic attack, and diabetes mellitus. Without anticoagulation therapy, patients with any of these risk factors had a 4% annual risk of stroke. Patients with cardiac disorders such as congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease have a stroke rate 3 times higher than patients without any risk factors; patients with atrial fibrillation but no concomitant risk factors or structural heart disease seemed to have little concomitant risk for stroke. Meta-analysis revealed a 64% reduction of risk for stroke in patients treated with warfarin, as compared with placebo. The value of warfarin therapy in patients > 75 years old is less clear because of a high risk of hemorrhagic complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Lankenau Hospital and Medical Research Center, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania 19096, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morley
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marinchak
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rials
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kowey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin; D001241:Aspirin