Stroke Prevention Guidelines
Authors: Robert G. Hart
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1995)

Letters1 February 1995Stroke Prevention GuidelinesRobert G. Hart, MD, William M. Feinberg, MD, and Jonathan L. Halperin, MDRobert G. Hart, MDFor the SPAF Investigators, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, TX 78284-7883. Center for Health Policy Research and Education, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708.Search for more papers by this author, William M. Feinberg, MDFor the SPAF Investigators, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, TX 78284-7883. Center for Health Policy Research and Education, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708.Search for more papers by this author, and Jonathan L. Halperin, MDFor the SPAF Investigators, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, TX 78284-7883. Center for Health Policy Research and Education, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-122-3-199502010-00016 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Matchar and colleagues [1] cite the Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) study analyses [2, 3] to support the claim that “patients younger than 60 years who have a normal echocardiogram and no risk factors have an extremely low risk for stroke (1% per year).” Because the prevalence of atrial fibrillation is strongly related to advanced patient age, this scheme suggests that fewer than 5% of approximately 2 million Americans with atrial fibrillation would be at low risk. We reported that patients of any age with atrial fibrillation and without specific clinical or echocardiographic risk factors have ...References1. Matchar DB, McCrory DC, Barnett HJ, Feussner JR. Medical treatment for stroke prevention. Ann Intern Med. 1994; 121:41-53. Google Scholar2. Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Investigators. Predictors of thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation. I: clinical features of patients at risk. Ann Intern Med. 1992; 116:1-5. Google Scholar3. Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Investigators. Predictors of thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation. II: echocardiographic features of patients at risk. Ann Intern Med. 1992; 116:6-12. Google Scholar4. Atrial Fibrillation Investigators. Risk factors for stroke and efficacy of antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation: analysis of pooled data from five randomized, controlled trials. Arch Intern Med. 1994; 154:1449-57. Google Scholar5. Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Investigators. Warfarin vs. aspirin for prevention of thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation. Lancet. 1994; 343:687-91. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Robert G. Hart, MD; William M. Feinberg, MD; Jonathan L. Halperin, MDAffiliations: For the SPAF Investigators, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, TX 78284-7883. Center for Health Policy Research and Education, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byPharmacological Management of Atrial Fibrillation 1 February 1995Volume 122, Issue 3Page: 235-236KeywordsAspirinAtrial fibrillationClinical trialsCohort studiesFactor analysisIschemic strokeMedical risk factorsRelative riskRisk managementStroke ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 1 February 1995 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1995 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...