Anticoagulation for Stroke Prevention in Elderly Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Risk-Benefit Ratio Remains Highly Favorable

Abstract

The benefits of oral anticoagulation may be obscured in elderly patient with atrial fibrillation due to multiple factors reasons. However,
a new study by Van Walraven et al1
showed that oral anticoagulants remain beneficial in preventing ischemic stroke even in elderly
patients with atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an independent risk factor for stroke, and subsequent
death and disability. AF independently increases the stroke risk 5-folds in an
age dependent manner.2
AF affects 5% of the population over 70 years, and the
prevalence approaches up to 10% for individuals over 80 years.3
It is expected that
AF will increase its prevalence in the future because of aging of the population.4
Adjusted-dose warfarin to achieve an International Normalized Ratio (INR)
between 2 and 3 is proven to significantly reduce the risk of stroke associated with
AF.2