Optimising stroke prevention in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is more prevalent in the elderly, and is associated with an increasing risk of stroke and thromboembolism. Despite the perception that elderly patients do badly on oral anticoagulation (OAC), the evidence clearly shows how with increasing age, OAC is increasingly more protective, with no difference between OAC and aspirin in terms of serious bleeding or intracranial bleeding. This is consistent with various studies showing a beneficial effect of OAC with one or more stroke risk factors, with a positive net clinical benefit (NCB) balancing ischaemic stroke reduction against the potential harm of serious bleeding [1, 2]. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.