PMID: 15374018Sep 18, 2004Paper

Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: physicians' attitudes to anticoagulation in older people

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
S VasishtaM Hasan

Abstract

The increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in older people contributes to an increased risk of stroke. Although clear guidelines exist, there is considerable variation in physicians' approaches to the selection of patients appropriate for warfarin treatment as stroke prevention. We compared attitudes to the anticoagulation of elderly patients with AF, in a postal study of geriatricians and specialist physicians (general physicians with specialist interests in Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Nephrology and Neurology). A structured questionnaire was mailed to all 108 consultant physicians and geriatricians in South East Wales. This explored their attitude to their patients' age and comorbidity when considering the benefits and risks of warfarin prophylaxis for AF. About 25/30 geriatricians (83%) and 43/78 specialist physicians (55%) responded; an overall response rate of 63%. About 94% of the respondents agreed that patients aged over 75 with atrial fibrillation were at a greater risk of stroke than younger patients. About 68% considered warfarin related bleeds more likely in this age group, despite which most thought that the benefits of warfarin outweighed the risks. In people aged above 75, ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Mar 15, 2006·Der Nervenarzt·H B HuttnerT Steiner
Aug 15, 2013·American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs : Drugs, Devices, and Other Interventions·Neda TavassoliUNKNOWN REAL.FR Group
Oct 26, 2005·Drugs & Aging·Wafik Farah AndrawesJoël Belmin
Mar 12, 2016·Phytomedicine : International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology·Mohammad M ZarshenasArman Zargaran
Nov 26, 2010·Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics·Karin RådholmKatarina Nägga
Jan 24, 2006·Lancet·Stanley Nattel, Lionel H Opie
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Nov 3, 2006·Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics·Puneet Kakar, Gregory Y H Lip

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