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 ) .
Reinitiation of anticoagulation after warfarin-associated intracranial hemorrhage and mortality risk: the Best Practice for Reinitiating Anticoagulation Therapy After Intracranial Bleeding (BRAIN) study.
BACKGROUND While warfarin-related intracranial hemorrhage ( ICH ) occurs in 0.25%-1.1 % patients per year , little is known about the practice and outcomes of anticoagulant reinitiation . METHODS We studied a cohort of consecutive patients with warfarin-related ICH ( intracerebral or subarachnoid ) admitted to 13 stroke centres in the Registry of the Canadian Stroke Network between July 2003 and March 2008 . We examined patterns of warfarin reinitiation and variables associated with 30-day and 1-year outcomes . RESULTS Among the 284 patients studied ( mean age 74 ± 12 years ) , warfarin was restarted in-hospital in 91 patients ( 32 % ) . Factors associated with restarting warfarin were lower stroke severity ( adjusted odds ratio [ aOR ] 2.07 , 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] ; 1.20 - 3.57 , P = 0.009 ) or presence of valve prosthesis ( aOR 3.07 , 95 % CI ; 1.29 - 7.27 , P = 0.011 ) . Mortality rates were not higher in those who restarted warfarin in-hospital : 31.9 % vs 54.4 % ( 30-day , P < 0.001 ) and 48 % vs 61 % ( 1-year , P = 0.04 ) , and bleeding was not increased . Multivariable predictors of mortality included initial international normalized ratio > 3.0 ( aOR , 3.28 [ 30-day , P < 0.001 ] and 3.32 [ 1-year , P = 0.003 ] ) , greater stroke severity ( aOR , 6.04 [ 30-day ] and 4.22 [ 1-year ] ; both P < 0.001 ) , and intraventricular hemorrhage ( aOR , 2.19 [ 30-day ; P = 0.03 ] and 2.04 [ 1-year ; P = 0.04 ] ) . In selected patients who reinitiated warfarin , there was no increase in 30-day ( aOR , 0.49 ; P = 0.03 ) or 1-year mortality ( aOR , 0.79 ; P = 0.43 ) . CONCLUSIONS In selected patients at high thrombosis risk , reinitiation of warfarin after ICH did not confer increased mortality or bleeding events
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 ) .