title: Antiplatelet versus anticoagulant therapies in advanced age: an unfinished task.
abstract: We have read with great interest a retrospective cohort study recently published by Blich and Gross. In our opinion, this article renews the controversy of the best antithrombotic therapy in patients with AF. The use of anticoagulant treatment to prevent the occurrence of stroke in patients with AF is supported by several randomized controlled clinical trials. Aspirin is also effective in preventing stroke in AF, but both direct and indirect comparisons with oral anticoagulation suggest less effectiveness. However, very probably these patients are quite different than those seen in the clinical practice. The role of antiplatelet therapy is not completely established, and the selection between aspirin or warfarin in advanced age remains an unfinished task.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Honrubia
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roldán
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Climent
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sogorb
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marín
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin; D001241:Aspirin