In addition , 19 letters to the editor/ review s/editorials/experts ' surveys/experts ' opinion were used for discussion purpose s. Conclusions NVAF is highly prevalent among ICH survivors .
The risks of IS , recurrent ICH , and mortality are heightened in this group .
Most published data show a net benefit in terms of IS prevention and mortality when anticoagulation is restarted .
Background We summarize the existing evidence on the potential benefit of oral anticoagulation ( OAC ) in intracerebral hemorrhage ( ICH ) survivors with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation ( NVAF ) .
The effect of warfarin and intensity of anticoagulation on outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage.
BACKGROUND Warfarin sodium is highly effective for prevention of embolic stroke , particularly in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation , but its expected benefit can be offset by risk of intracerebral hemorrhage ( ICH ) . We studied the determinants of ICH outcome to quantify the independent effect of warfarin . METHODS Consecutive patients with supratentorial ICH treated in a tertiary care hospital with a neurointensive care unit were prospect ively identified during a 7-year period , and data on hemorrhage location , clinical characteristics , and warfarin use were collected . Independent predictors of 3-month mortality were determined using multiple logistic regression analysis . RESULTS Of 435 consecutive patients aged 55 years or older , 102 ( 23.4 % ) were taking warfarin at the time of ICH .  Three-month mortality was 25.8 % for those not taking warfarin and 52.0 % for those taking warfarin . Independent predictors of death were warfarin use ( odds ratio [ OR ] , 2.2 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 1.3 - 3.8 ) , age 70 years or older ( OR , 2.4 ; 95 % CI , 1.4 - 4.0 ) , and presence of diabetes mellitus ( OR , 1.8 ; 95 % CI , 1.0 - 3.3 ) . Although 68.0 % of all warfarin-related hemorrhages occurred at an international normalized ratio ( INR ) of 3.0 or less , increasing degrees of anticoagulation were strongly associated with increasing risk of death compared with no warfarin use . CONCLUSIONS Patients taking warfarin  had a doubling in the rate of intracerebral hemorrhage mortality in a dose-dependent manner . The data suggest that careful control of the INR , already known to limit the risk of warfarin-related ICH , may also limit its severity
In addition , 19 letters to the editor/ review s/editorials/experts ' surveys/experts ' opinion were used for discussion purpose s. Conclusions NVAF is highly prevalent among ICH survivors .
The risks of IS , recurrent ICH , and mortality are heightened in this group .
Most published data show a net benefit in terms of IS prevention and mortality when anticoagulation is restarted .
Background We summarize the existing evidence on the potential benefit of oral anticoagulation ( OAC ) in intracerebral hemorrhage ( ICH ) survivors with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation ( NVAF ) .