Anticoagulants Not Enough? Stroke Risk Remains High in Atrial Fibrillation Patients: Study Finds
Ireland: Atrial fibrillation (AF) significantly increases the risk of stroke, and while anticoagulation therapy is the current standard to reduce this risk, a new systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Neurology highlights that patients continue to face a substantial residual risk of recurrent stroke despite treatment. The study, led by John J. McCabe and colleagues from the Health Research Board Stroke Clinical Trials Network Ireland, analyzed data from over 78,000 patients to better understand the extent of stroke recurrence in this high-risk population.
The researchers reviewed 23 studies involving 78,733 individuals with a history of ischemic stroke and AF, encompassing more than 140,000 person-years of follow-up.
The key findings include the following:
- The annual risk of recurrent ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is about 3.75%, despite around 92% of patients being on oral anticoagulants (OAC).
- The risk of recurrent stroke was twice as high in noninterventional observational studies (4.2% per year) compared to randomized clinical trials (2.26% per year).
- The difference in recurrence rates may be due to variations in patient management and study conditions.
- The combined risk for any recurrent stroke, including ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), was approximately 4.88% per year.
- The rate of intracerebral hemorrhage alone was relatively low, at 0.58% annually.
- Patients who experienced a stroke despite being on anticoagulation had a higher risk, with a 7.2% annual risk of recurrent ischemic stroke.
- The same group faced an 8.96% yearly risk of any recurrent stroke, highlighting the difficulty in preventing stroke recurrence even with current therapies.
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.