title: Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke: Making Sense of Recent Observations on Anticoagulation.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent heart rhythm disorder. AF accounts for a great proportion of deaths because it independently increases all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality risks. Ischemic stroke is the most common cardiovascular adverse event in AF patients. Oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) has been central for stroke prevention. Several drugs with a direct inhibitory effects on thrombin and factor Xa have been developed. These non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are as effective and safer than warfarin. This review provides an overview of current guidelines and summarizes current evidence for the prevention of stroke in AF patients according to most relevant patients' subgroups and clinical features.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK; Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza-University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Proietti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK; Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark. Electronic address: g.y.h.lip@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gregory Y H
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lip
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants
keywords: Clinical characteristics; Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants; Oral anticoagulant therapy; Thromboembolic risk; Vitamin K antagonist