Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation in Elderly Patients: The Impact of Anticoagulants on the Risk of Stroke

The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) increases with the aging population. Complications associated with AF treatment also increase significantly in older adults aged 75 years or older.

The effectiveness of catheter ablation may be less convincing than that of antiarrhythmic drug therapy for rhythm control in patients aged 75 years or older; however, it is considered a safe and effective strategy for treating AF refractory to drug therapy.

In addition to heart rate and rhythm control, stroke prevention is crucial in the treatment of AF. Given the high risk of stroke in individuals aged 75 years or older with AF, the benefits of stroke prevention with anticoagulants outweigh the risk of bleeding. Therefore, regardless of the presence of other risk factors, elderly individuals with AF should receive oral anticoagulants. Overall, a shared decision-making approach is crucial in the management of AF in the elderly.

To be updated shortly..