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Anticoagulation management in clinical practice: preventing stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation

Kathleen Hickey1

  • 1Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA. kth6@columbia.edu

Heart & Lung : the Journal of Critical Care
|November 4, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases stroke risk. This review covers current anticoagulation therapies like warfarin and emerging options for stroke prevention in AF patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a significant risk factor for cardioembolic stroke.
  • Oral anticoagulation, primarily warfarin, is the standard for stroke prevention in AF.
  • Warfarin's effectiveness is limited by underutilization and need for monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current stroke risk management strategies in AF patients.
  • To discuss the role of warfarin and its limitations.
  • To explore the impact of new oral anticoagulants on clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of anticoagulation therapies for AF.
  • Analysis of warfarin's efficacy, safety, and monitoring requirements.
  • Discussion of emerging oral anticoagulant options.

Main Results:

  • Warfarin is effective but requires careful management.
  • Underutilization of warfarin remains a challenge.
  • New oral anticoagulants offer potential alternatives with different profiles.

Conclusions:

  • Optimizing anticoagulation is crucial for reducing AF-related strokes.
  • Understanding warfarin's limitations is key.
  • Emerging anticoagulants may change future stroke prevention strategies in AF.

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