title: The incidence of atrial fibrillation and the use of warfarin in Northland, New Zealand stroke patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the number of Northland stroke patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and to assess the effective use of warfarin anticoagulation in this group
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of patients admitted with stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) to Whangarei Hospital between 1 Jan 2010 and 1 Sept 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 198 stroke/TIA patients identified, 47 (24%) had confirmed persistent or paroxysmal AF (PAF) or flutter. Only 12 (31%) patients with pre existing PAF or AF were on warfarin and only 1 patient had an ischaemic stroke while in the therapeutic INR range of 2.0-3.0. The commonest reason cited for no anticoagulation was patients' wishes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our region, effective warfarin use for stroke prevention in AF patients is lower than recommended. This may be improved with increased awareness of efficacy and safety of warfarin and more thorough monitoring of INR.
authors.affiliation: Whangarei Hospital, Private Bag 9742, Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Nicole M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: McGrath
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin