Comparison of Oral Anticoagulant Use and Stroke Risk Among Older Adults Newly-Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation Living in Urban-Versus-Rural Areas.

ABSTRACT: We aimed to assess the association between urban/rural residence and the risk of ischemic stroke in individuals with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF), and to quantify the role of oral anticoagulation (OAC) initiation in the variation in stroke risk between urban and rural residents with AF. Using 5% random samples of Medicare claims, we identified fee-for-service beneficiaries who were diagnosed with AF between January 2014 and December 2015. Beneficiaries were followed for 1 year since their AF diagnosis, and were categorized according to their initiation of OAC within the year. We used the Rural-Urban Continuum Codes to define urban (levels 1 to 3) and rural (levels 4 to 9) areas. We applied marginal structural models to examine to what extent the difference in stroke risk betwee

SUBMITTER: Guo J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8040970 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature