Preventing stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation

Context Atrial fibrillation, a common disorder that affects nearly one sixt h of the population aged 75 years and older, is a major risk factor for str oke. Objectives To review and evaluate the evidence supporting the use of warfar in and/or aspirin for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillatio n. Data Sources Prospective, randomized trials of patients with atrial fibrill ation evaluating either warfarin or aspirin or both, from MEDLINE from Janu ary 1, 1966, to February 23, 1999. Study Selection Five primary prevention placebo-controlled studies, which h ad been formally pooled, 1 study evaluating secondary prevention of stroke, 1 study comparing warfarin with aspirin, and 3 studies of warfarin in comb ination with aspirin were identified. Data Synthesis The risk of developing stroke is heterogeneous and increases with each decade above 65 years; history of high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, previous transient ischemic attack, or stroke; poor ventricular f unction; and in women older than 75 years. For patients younger than 65 yea rs, without risk factors, and not receiving antithrombotic therapy, the ris k of stroke is 1%/y; those without risk factors between the ages of 65 and 75 years have a risk of 1.1%/y if taking warfarin and 1.4%/y if taking aspi rin. For all other patients, stroke risk is reduced from an untreated rate of between 4.3%/y and more than 12%/y to a rate of 1.2%/y to 4%/y with warf arin use. Conclusion The protection afforded by warfarin is most pronounced in patien ts at the highest risk for stroke, while aspirin treatment seems adequate i n low-risk populations.