Erring on the side of caution, most doctors fail to give patients with atrial fibrillation a drug that can greatly reduce their risk of stroke. A new study shows that four out of 10 eligible patients still don't get the drug, although it does show HMOs that offer doctors better support can increase proper treatment.
Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the heart tends to beat out of rhythm.
There are several types of treatment, but patients remain at high risk of stroke. A blood-thinning drug marketed as warfarin sodium or Coumadin greatly reduces this risk, but doctors often are reluctant to prescribe it. More work needs to be done to improve its use. Patients with atrial fibrillation should at least consult with their doctor to see if they're candidates to take it. The over 11,000 patients eligible for warfarin therapy during the study period had one or more risk factors for stroke.