Anticoagulant prescribing in patients with ischaemic stroke: what has changed over a decade?

A study at our institution conducted 10 years ago identified that warfarin was under-utilised in patients with atrial fibrillation. We replicated this study and compared the results. There was a significant increase in the proportion of patients appropriately anticoagulated (63% vs 9%, P < 0.001). Eighty-seven percent of eligible patients were appropriately anticoagulated on discharge (86% previously). Seventy-two percent of treated patients were prescribed a direct oral anticoagulant. Of these, 10% were discharged with a sub-therapeutic dose without obvious explanation.