Net clinical benefit of anticoagulation therapy in the elderly patients with atrial fibrillation

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Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
28:13

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 26, 2013

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Lorenzo Palleschi1, Eleonora Nunziata

  • 1Hospital S. Giovanni-Addolorata, Unit of Geriatrics. ele.nunziata@gmail.com.

Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease = Archivio Monaldi Per Le Malattie Del Torace
|June 8, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Older adults with atrial fibrillation (AF) face high stroke risk. Oral anticoagulation (OAC) effectively prevents clots, with newer non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) offering expanded treatment options for this population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Geriatrics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) significantly increases stroke risk, particularly in older adults.
  • Oral anticoagulation (OAC) is the cornerstone of thromboembolic event prevention in AF patients.
  • Traditional OAC agents include aspirin and vitamin-K antagonists (VKAs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review practical considerations for selecting and using OAC in elderly patients with AF.
  • To aid clinicians in making informed OAC treatment decisions for older adults.
  • To discuss the role of novel oral anticoagulants in managing AF-related stroke risk.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of OAC agents for atrial fibrillation.
  • Analysis of clinical guidelines and evidence for OAC use in the elderly.
  • Discussion of practical aspects of OAC selection and administration.

Main Results:

  • Older age is a major risk factor for stroke in AF.
  • Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) represent a significant advancement in OAC therapy.
  • Effective OAC management is crucial for reducing thromboembolic disease in elderly AF patients.

Conclusions:

  • OAC therapy is essential for stroke prevention in elderly patients with AF.
  • NOACs provide valuable alternatives to VKAs, expanding therapeutic options.
  • Careful consideration of patient-specific factors is necessary for optimal OAC selection in older adults.

Keywords:
Atrial fibrillationelderly.oral anticoagulationstroke

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