Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Bleeding Risk Scores in Atrial Fibrillation and Venous Thromboembolism
Hanis Zulkifly1, Gregory Y H Lip2, Deirdre A Lane2
1University of Birmingham Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Patients receiving oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) and prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) face an increased risk of bleeding with OAC treatment. Clinicians need to weigh the benefits of OAC treatment against the risk of bleeding. To help formalize bleeding risk assessment, various bleeding risk scores have been developed to help predict the risk of bleeding in AF and VTE patients receiving OAC therapy. This review summarizes the literature involving original studies deriving bleeding risk scores and validation studies of these scores for stroke prevention in AF and treatment/prevention of VTE. To date, there are 10 bleeding risk scores, 6 for use in AF populations, 3 in VTE cohorts, and 1 for mixed indications; they differ markedly in the number of, and risk factors for, bleeding and complexity. In conclusion, many clinical prediction tools to assess bleeding risk prior to starting OAC treatment for either stroke prevention in AF or treatment of VTE are available and should be used in clinical practice to identify and manage modifiable risk factors.
Patients receiving oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) and prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) face an increased risk of bleeding with OAC treatment. Clinicians need to weigh the benefits of OAC treatment against the risk of bleeding. To help formalize bleeding risk assessment, various bleeding risk scores have been developed to help predict the risk of bleeding in AF and VTE patients receiving OAC therapy. This review summarizes the literature involving original studies deriving bleeding risk scores and validation studies of these scores for stroke prevention in AF and treatment/prevention of VTE. To date, there are 10 bleeding risk scores, 6 for use in AF populations, 3 in VTE cohorts, and 1 for mixed indications; they differ markedly in the number of, and risk factors for, bleeding and complexity. In conclusion, many clinical prediction tools to assess bleeding risk prior to starting OAC treatment for either stroke prevention in AF or treatment of VTE are available and should be used in clinical practice to identify and manage modifiable risk factors.
More Related Videos
28:13Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
08:10Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 20, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Venous Thrombosis IV: Nursing Management
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Venous Thrombosis I: Introduction
Disorders of Hemostasis
Thromboembolic Disorders
Two factors primarily cause thromboembolic conditions.