Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 Nov;24(11):1765-1774.
doi: 10.1007/s11886-022-01787-1. Epub 2022 Sep 22.

Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation

Xu Gao  1 , Rod Passman  2
Affiliations
Review

Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation

Xu Gao et al. Curr Cardiol Rep. 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Atrial fibrillation is associated with a significant increase in stroke and systemic embolism. This review explores the areas of stroke prevention.

Recent findings: In the last decade, NOAC has overtaken warfarin as the anticoagulant of choice for stroke prevention in AF. For patients unable to take anticoagulation, LAA closure has proven to be a valid option. The use of digital devices has led to widespread consumer-directed AF screening. It remains to be determined if all device detect AF pose the same amount of risk as recent studies have shown that short and infrequent episodes of AF may not benefit from anticoagulation. Stroke prevention is paramount in the management of AF. In this review we describe the risk factors contributing to stroke, recent advances in antithrombotic therapies, and the increasing role of digital health in guiding AF detection and stroke prevention.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Digital health; Left atrial appendage closure; Risk stratification; Stroke prevention; Wearable technology.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance
    1. Go AS, Hylek EM, Phillips KA, Chang Y, Henault LE, Selby JV, et al. Prevalence of diagnosed atrial fibrillation in adults: national implications for rhythm management and stroke prevention: the AnTicoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA) Study. JAMA. 2001;285(18):2370–5. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.285.18.2370 . - DOI
    1. Singer DE, Chang Y, Borowsky LH, Fang MC, Pomernacki NK, Udaltsova N, et al. A new risk scheme to predict ischemic stroke and other thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation: the ATRIA study stroke risk score. J Am Heart Assoc. 2013;2(3):e000250. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.113.000250 . - DOI
    1. Rietbrock S, Heeley E, Plumb J, van Staa T. Chronic atrial fibrillation: incidence, prevalence, and prediction of stroke using the Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age >75, Diabetes mellitus, and prior Stroke or transient ischemic attack (CHADS2) risk stratification scheme. Am Heart J. 2008;156(1):57–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2008.03.010 . - DOI
    1. Lip GY, Nieuwlaat R, Pisters R, Lane DA, Crijns HJ. Refining clinical risk stratification for predicting stroke and thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation using a novel risk factor-based approach: the Euro Heart Survey on atrial fibrillation. Chest. 2010;137(2):263–72. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.09-1584 . - DOI
    1. Hart RG, Pearce LA, McBride R, Rothbart RM, Asinger RW. Factors associated with ischemic stroke during aspirin therapy in atrial fibrillation: analysis of 2012 participants in the SPAF I-III clinical trials. The Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Investigators. Stroke. 1999;30(6):1223–9. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.str.30.6.1223 . - DOI

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources