ANTIPLATELET THERAPY OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: FOCUS ON THE ELDERLY

Current guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) recommend using anticoagulants as first-line drugs for stroke prevention, but in real medical practice antiplatelet drugs are often prescribed to elderly patients. Review of clinical and pharmacoepidemiological studies allows us to co...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: E. А. Ushkalova, S. K. Zyryanov, E. V. Dumchenko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Столичная издательская компания 2017-03-01
Series:Рациональная фармакотерапия в кардиологии
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.rpcardio.online/jour/article/view/1426
Description
Summary:Current guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) recommend using anticoagulants as first-line drugs for stroke prevention, but in real medical practice antiplatelet drugs are often prescribed to elderly patients. Review of clinical and pharmacoepidemiological studies allows us to conclude that  risk associated with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) use in patients ≥75 years can overweigh its potential benefit. Other antiplatelet drugs are poorly studied in patients with AF. Dual antiplatelet therapy (ASA + clopidogrel) can be prescribed to elderly patients with cardiovascular comorbidity who are deemed unsuitable candidates for anticoagulant therapy for reasons other  than  bleeding risk or those  who refuse to take oral anticoagulants. Combined therapy of antiplatelet drugs with warfarin or new oral anticoagulants results in no reduction in stroke rate compared with anticoagulant monotherapy but is associated with increased risk of bleeding and can’t be recommended.
ISSN:1819-6446
2225-3653