• Emer R McGrath, Moira K Kapral, Jiming Fang, John W Eikelboom, Aengus ó Conghaile, Aengus O Conghaile, Michelle Canavan, Martin J O'Donnell, and Investigators of the Ontario Stroke Registry.
• From the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (E.R.M.); National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland (E.R.M.); University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (M.K.K.); Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), Toronto, Ontario, Canada (M.K.K., J.F.); McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (J.W.E.); and National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland (A.O.C., M.C., M.J.O.). emcgrath2@partners.org.
• Stroke. 2014 Dec 1; 45 (12): 3637-42.

Background And PurposeFor patients with atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke (IS), current guidelines recommend oral anticoagulation (OAC) alone for secondary prevention of IS. In a large prospective cohort of patients with acute IS and atrial fibrillation, we determine the association between antithrombotic regimen on discharge and risk of major vascular events.MethodsProspective cohort of consecutive patients included in the Ontario Stroke Registry. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the association between antithrombotic regimen on discharge and time to death or admission for recurrent IS, myocardial infarction, or major bleeding.ResultsTwo thousand one hundred sixty-two patients were hospitalized atrial fibrillation and acute IS. At discharge, 8.0% were prescribed no antithrombotic therapy, 21.6% antiplatelet therapy alone, 39.3% OAC (warfarin) alone, and 31.1% combination OAC and antiplatelet therapy. Compared with OAC alone (hazard ratio [HR], 1.0), no antithrombotic therapy (HR, 1.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.23-1.86) and antiplatelet therapy (HR, 1.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-1.50) were associated with an increased risk of the primary composite outcome, whereas combination OAC and antiplatelet therapy was associated with a trend toward a reduced risk (HR, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-1.04 overall and HR, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.61-1.02 in those with coronary heart disease). Results were consistent in those with severe stroke: HR 1.58 (95% CI, 1.21-2.06), 1.34 (95% CI, 1.09-1.63), and 0.91 (95% CI, 0.74-1.11), respectively.ConclusionsContrary to current guidelines, 30% of patients with atrial fibrillation and recent IS are not prescribed any OAC therapy on discharge, whereas a further 30% are prescribed combination OAC and antiplatelet therapy. Combination OAC and antiplatelet therapy in patients at high cardiovascular risk requires evaluation in clinical trials, particularly with the newer OACs, given their more favorable risk-benefit ratio compared with warfarin.© 2014 American Heart Association, Inc.

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