Effects of oral anticoagulant therapy in older medical in-patients with atrial fibrillation: a prospective cohort observational study.

Background: Uncertainties about efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) among older and frail medical patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) largely contribute to under-prescription of these drugs.

Aims: In this prospective observational cohort study, we investigated mortality, and ischemic and hemorrhagic events, in hospital-discharged older patients with AF.

Methods: Stroke and bleeding risk were evaluated using CHA2DS2-VASC and HAS-BLED scores.

Effects of Oral Anticoagulant Therapy in Medical Inpatients ≥65 Years With Atrial Fibrillation.

In this retrospective cohort observational study, we investigated mortality, ischemic, and hemorrhagic events in patients ≥65 years with atrial fibrillation consecutively discharged from an Acute Geriatric Ward in the period 2010 to 2013. Stroke and bleeding risk were evaluated using CHA2DS2-VASC (congestive heart failure/left ventricular dysfunction, hypertension, aged ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke/transient ischemic attack/systemic embolism, vascular disease, aged 65 to 74 years, gender category) and HAS-BLED (hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function, stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratio, elderly, drugs/alcohol concomitantly) scores. Co-morbidity, cognitive status, and functional autonomy were evaluated using standardized scales.