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Updated: Oct 3, 2025

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Optimal anticoagulation in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation: Which drug at which dose?
Jo-Nan Liao1,2, Yi-Hsin Chan3,4,5, Ling Kuo1,2
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Aging is an important risk factor for adverse events in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and complicates the management of anticoagulation. Underuse of oral anticoagulants (OACs) is common in elderly patients because of comorbidities, the altered physiological function of multiple organs, frailty, risk of falls, and the lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) specifically for elderly patients. Nevertheless, current data still support OACs use for reducing ischemic stroke with positive net clinical benefits. Sub-analyses of RCTs and real-world cohort studies showed that non-vitamin K antagonist OACs (NOACs) would be more favorable choices compared to warfarin for stroke prevention in the elderly. This review will discuss important data on stroke prevention and the use of NOACs in elderly AF patients.
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