title: Reducing the risk for stroke in patients who have atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Warfarin is highly effective at reducing the risk of stroke in AF. The benefit of oral anticoagulant therapy strongly outweighs the risk in most patients who have AF. More data are needed to define the overall risk-to-benefit ratio better for patients aged 80 years and older. Because a significant proportion of elderly individuals may not be optimal candidates for anticoagulant therapy, we must continue to evaluate alternative stroke prevention strategies while redoubling our efforts to understand the mechanisms underlying AF and thrombogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC10 5550, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. davgarcia@salud.unm.edu
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hylek
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin