title: Stroke prevention in the elderly atrial fibrillation patient with comorbid conditions: focus on non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants.
abstract: Stroke prevention in elderly atrial fibrillation patients remains a challenge. There is a high risk of stroke and systemic thromboembolism but also a high risk of bleeding if anticoagulants are prescribed. The elderly have increased chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, polypharmacy, and overall frailty. For all these reasons, anticoagulant use is underutilized in the elderly. In this manuscript, the benefits of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants compared with warfarin in the elderly patient population with multiple comorbid conditions are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Mohit K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Turagam
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Poonam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Velagapudi
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Greg C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Flaker
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications*; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014812:Vitamin K; D014859:Warfarin
keywords: apixaban; dabigatran; edoxaban; non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants; novel oral anticoagulants; rivaroxaban; warfarin