MY APPROACH to the Practical Management of Anticoagulation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) should be used for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and prosthetic heart valves, mitral stenosis, severe valvular disease, and severe renal dysfunction. In other patients (those with non-valvular AF), anticoagulation is considered based on risk factors. The CHA2DS2-VASc score assigns 1 point for cardiac failure, hypertension, diabetes, age between 65 and 74 years, vascular disease, and female gender; 2 points are assigned for age 75 years and older and stroke. Patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 0 do not require anticoagulation.
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research