Atrial fibrillation and stroke: from scientific evidence to practice.
Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is the most frequent cause of cardioembolic stroke. Due to the aging of the population, NVAF is becoming an important public health issue. Despite the impressive results of trials with oral anticoagulation (OAC) in primary and secondary prevention of stroke in NVAF patients, OAC remains underused or misused in practice. Beyond the risk of bleeding, there also are several arguments for a lack of knowledge about trials and guidelines. Medical education could then be one of the most effective way to improve stroke prevention in NVAF patients in practice.
Deplanque
Dominique
D
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Lille, France. d-deplanque@chru-lille.fr
Leys
Didier
D
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011322:Primary Prevention; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
D000925:Anticoagulants