Prescription of oral anticoagulants and antiplatelets for stroke prophylaxis in atrial fibrillation: nationwide time series ecological analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

To investigate trends in the prescription of oral anticoagulants (OACs) and antiplatelet agents for atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods and results

Prescription data for 450 518 patients with AF from 3352 General Practices in England, was obtained from the GRASP-AF registry, 2009-2018. Annualized temporal trends for OAC and antiplatelet prescription were reported according to eligibility based on stroke risk (CHADS2 or CHA2DS2-VASc scores ≥1 or >2, respectively). From 2009 to 2018, the prevalence of AF increased from 1.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-1.7%] to 2.4% (2.3-2.5%), and for those with AF the proportion prescribed OAC increased from 47.6% to 75.0% (P-trend < 0.001; relative risk 1.57, 95% CI 1.55-1.60) and for antiplatelet decreased from 37.4% to 9.2% (P-tre

SUBMITTER: Wu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7478320 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature