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Message from the Faculty

We believe that for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who are at moderate to high risk of stroke, we should stop thinking aspirin and start thinking oral anticoagulants. So, if you only have time to do one thing, then please sign our petition to improve the management of Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation..
…and this is why we believe that the case is so compelling:

  • Patients with AF are five times more likely to have a stroke than non-AF patients1
  • Anticoagulation is about three times more effective than aspirin in preventing AF-related stroke2
  • 52% of patients diagnosed with AF are treated with antiplatelet treatment such as aspirin3
  • 2012 QOF Indicators for AF will only reward for patients with CHADS2 score >1 who are treated with anticoagulants4

We urge you to identify patients on aspirin using GRASP-AF5 and START thinking about using anticoagulants to improve protection for AF patients at moderate to high risk of stroke.

References


References:

  1. Wolf PA et al. Stroke 1991:2:983-8
  2. Hart RG et al. Ann Intern Med 2007;146:857–6
  3. Lee S et al. BMJ Open 2011;1:e000269
  4. Summary of 2012/3 QOF Changes. Available here
  5. Guidance on Risk Assessment and Stroke Prevention for Atrial Fibrillation (GRASP-AF). Available here

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Oral anticoagulation
is about three times
more effective
at preventing
stroke than
aspirin*




*Hart RG et al. Ann Intern Med 2007; 146:857-67


52% of stroke
patients diagnosed
with AF are treated
with antiplatelet
therapy such
as aspirin*




*Lee S et al. BMJ Open 2011;1:e000269
ePetition

A PRIMARY CARE

PERSPECTIVE

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