Drug Interactions Affecting Oral Anticoagulant Use.

Oral anticoagulants (OACs) are medications commonly used in patients with atrial fibrillation and other cardiovascular conditions. Both warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants are susceptible to drug-drug interactions (DDIs). DDIs are an important cause of adverse drug reactions and exact a large toll on the health care system.

Drug Interactions Affecting Antiarrhythmic Drug Use.

Antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) play an important role in the management of arrhythmias. Drug interactions involving AAD are common in clinical practice. As AADs have a narrow therapeutic window, both pharmacokinetic as well as pharmacodynamic interactions involving AAD can result in serious adverse drug reactions ranging from arrhythmia recurrence, failure of device-based therapy, and heart failure, to death.

Biomarkers for Atrial Fibrillation Detection After Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: To identify clinical, ECG, and blood-based biomarkers associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) detection after ischaemic stroke or TIA that could help inform patient selection for cardiac monitoring.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis and searched electronic databases for cohort studies from January 15, 2000, to January 15, 2020. The outcome was AF ≥30 seconds within 1 year after ischemic stroke/TIA.

Age- and sex-specific analysis of patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source.

Objective: To investigate whether the correlation of age and sex with the risk of recurrence and death seen in patients with previous ischemic stroke is also evident in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS).

Methods: We pooled datasets of 11 stroke registries from Europe and America. ESUS was defined according to the Cryptogenic Stroke/ESUS International Working Group.

P-Wave Indices and Risk of Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Purpose: Atrial cardiomyopathy is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. P-wave terminal force in lead V, P-wave duration, and maximum P-wave area are electrocardiographic parameters that have been used to assess left atrial abnormalities related to developing atrial fibrillation. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine their values for predicting ischemic stroke risk.

Risk Stratification for Recurrence and Mortality in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source.

Background And Purpose: The risk of stroke recurrence in patients with Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source (ESUS) is high, and the optimal antithrombotic strategy for secondary prevention is unclear. We investigated whether congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, and stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA; CHADS2) and CHA2DS2-VASc scores can stratify the long-term risk of ischemic stroke/TIA recurrence and death in ESUS.

Methods: We pooled data sets of 11 stroke registries from Europe and America.

Current Status and Time Trends of Oral Anticoagulation Use Among Chinese Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: The Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry Study.

Background And Purpose: Reported rates of oral anticoagulation (OAC) use have been low among Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). With improved awareness, changing guidelines, this situation may be changing over time. We aimed to explore the current status and time trends of OAC use in Beijing.

Ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage with aspirin, dabigatran, and warfarin: impact of quality of anticoagulation control.

Background And Purpose: Little is known about the impact of quality of anticoagulation control, as reflected by time in therapeutic range (TTR), on the effectiveness and safety of warfarin therapy in Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation. We investigated the risks of ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in relation to warfarin at various TTRs in a real-world cohort of Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation receiving warfarin and compared with those on dabigatran, aspirin, and no therapy.

Methods: This is an observational study.