[Auricular fibrillation as a risk factor of cerebrovascular events in the over-65s. Is clinical practice in anticoagulant prophylaxis adequate?].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical practice in antithrombotic therapy to prevent stroke in older patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Ourense's area with 95,840 inhabitants over 65 years.


METHODS
Patients over 65 with non rheumatic AF, chronic or paroxistic; 411 cases, 69.6% older than 75 year.


METHODS
Demographic characteristics, personal history, stroke risk, diagnostic characteristics of AF, antithrombotic treatment, and its adequacy.


RESULTS
Only 33% high risk patients received oral anticoagulation (OCA) with warfarin at diagnosis. Some features were found to be significant independent risk factors for OCA: age (older than 75 vs 65-74 years; odds ratio =0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.18-0.59), and prior stroke (odds ratio =2.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-3.55).


CONCLUSIONS
Warfarin prophylactic is insufficiently prescribed, especially in older than 75 years (with high baseline risk of stroke and no counter-indications). There was inadequate prescription in 73.4% cases.
Gayoso Diz
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Unidad de Investigación y Docencia, Xerencia de Atención Primaria de Ourense, Ourense, Spain. pgayoso@cristalp.es
Calle Custodio
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Prieto Maroto
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Herrera Calvo
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Sala López
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Gómez Mosquera
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MD
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin