The risks and benefits of antithrombotic therapy in chronic atrial fibrillation.
As the risks of adverse effects of warfarin and aspirin in certain patients with chronic atrial fibrillation are high, intervention with these agents should be targeted towards those who will derive most benefit. Clearer guidelines are emerging to identify those patients and to standardise current prescribing practices.
Hankey
G J
GJ
Quality Improvement Unit, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA. gjhankey@uniwa.uwa.edu.au
Gray
N J
NJ
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin; D001241:Aspirin