title: Antithrombotic Treatments for Stroke Prevention in Elderly Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: Drugs and Doses.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac rhythm disturbance and is associated with a 5-fold increased risk of stroke. The most important risk factors for stroke in patients with AF are previous stroke and age ≥ 75 years. Canadian guidelines recommend anticoagulant therapy for patients with AF who are older than the age of 65 years, but the elderly often remain undertreated, primarily because of concerns regarding bleeding. Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants appear to be safer, at least as efficacious, and more convenient than warfarin, and are a cost-effective alternative for elderly patients with AF. We review the evidence for the use of antithrombotic agents for stroke prevention in elderly patients (age ≥ 75 years) with nonvalvular AF.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: mkilickap@yahoo.com.
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Kilickap
authors: McMaster University Hamilton Health Sciences, Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Jackie
authors: J
authors: Bosch
authors: McMaster University Hamilton Health Sciences, Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors: John W
authors: JW
authors: Eikelboom
authors: McMaster University Hamilton Health Sciences, Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Robert G
authors: RG
authors: Hart
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000150:complications; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019338:Polypharmacy; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014812:Vitamin K