title: Anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation: the trials and tribulations of keeping within therapeutic range.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a growing epidemic in the developed world that has attracted much attention due to the associated risk of stroke and thromboembolism. This article discusses the application of oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in order to reduce these risks. The article provides an overview of OAC management and highlights the need for greater efforts to increase time within therapeutic range.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Jaspal S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Taggar
authors.forename: Gregory Y H
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lip
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants