Systematic review of observational studies assessing bleeding risk in patients with atrial fibrillation not using anticoagulants.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patients with atrial fibrillation considering use of anticoagulants must balance stroke reduction against bleeding risk. Knowledge of bleeding risk without the use of anticoagulants may help inform this decision.

Purpose

To determine the rate of major bleeding reported in observational studies of atrial fibrillation patients not receiving Vitamin K antagonists (VKA).

Data sources

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL to October 2011 and examined reference lists of eligible studies and related reviews.

Study selection

All longitudinal cohort studies that included over 100 adult patients with atrial fibrillation not receiving VKA.

Data extraction

Teams of two reviewers independently and in duplicate adjudicated eligibility, assessed risk of bia

SUBMITTER: Lopes LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3921139 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature