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Invited Editorial| Volume 298, ISSUE 1-2, P21-22, November 15, 2010

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How do we get better at identifying patients with atrial fibrillation who are at ‘truly low risk’ or ‘truly high risk’ of stroke?

Published:September 02, 2010DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2010.08.015
      Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac rhythm disorder with a substantial risk of stroke and thromboembolism, that increases dramatically with age and the presence of risk factors [
      • Hughes M.
      • Lip G.Y.
      Stroke and thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation: a systematic review of stroke risk factors, risk stratification schema and cost effectiveness data.
      ,
      • Stroke in AF Working Group
      Independent predictors of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review.
      ]. Thus, the prevention of stroke and thromboembolism is the cornerstone of AF management. This risk is present irrespective of whether AF is paroxysmal, persistent or permanent [
      • Lip G.Y.
      Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, stroke risk and thromboprophylaxis.
      ], and despite various debates on the place for antiplatelet therapy in thromboprophylaxis, oral anticoagulation still remains the most effective means of stroke prevention in AF [
      • Apostolakis S.
      • Shantsila E.
      • Lip G.Y.
      • Lane D.A.
      Contra: “Anti-platelet therapy is an alternative to oral anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation”.
      ,
      • Healey J.S.
      Pro: “Anti-platelet therapy is an alternative to oral anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation”.
      ].
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