title: Prediction of stroke risk in atrial fibrillation, prevention of stroke in atrial fibrillation, and the impact of long-term monitoring for detecting atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a large public health problem that affects about 1% of the population in the United States. It confers an increased risk for stroke and thromboembolism, but the stroke risk is not equal in all patients. Further refinement in stratifying stroke risk in patients with AF will help in properly directing therapy for AF patients while minimizing adverse events. Warfarin is the first-line treatment for stroke reduction in patients with AF, but many new drugs are on the horizon that will significantly change practice. New and improved cardiac monitoring techniques and devices will help with detection of AF in those at risk for stroke and will assist in assessing which patients will most benefit from anticoagulation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Bruce B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Lerman
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000991:Antithrombins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000601:surgery; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004562:Electrocardiography; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013686:Telemetry; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000991:Antithrombins; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014812:Vitamin K