A Clinical Prediction Rule to Identify Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and a Low Risk for Stroke While Taking Aspirin

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (AF) more than quadruples the risk for stroke.1 Oral anticoagulation and aspirin therapy decrease this risk,2 and the balance of evidence indicates that oral anticoagulation is considerably more efficacious than aspirin for preventing stroke in patients with AF (hereafter referred to as AF patients).2 Oral anticoagulation, however, is more troublesome3 and has a greater likelihood of complications.4 Since stroke risk varies extensively in AF patients,5 several risk stratification schemes have identified AF patients whose stroke risk is low enough to safely avoid oral anticoagulation.3,5-9