Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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Multicenter Study
Prevalence of atrial fibrillation and antithrombotic prophylaxis in emergency department patients.
The emergency department (ED), as the point of first medical contact for many complaints referable to atrial fibrillation (AF) and a common source of primary care, occupies a unique position to identify AF patients at risk of stroke. This study evaluates that potential by determining the prevalence of AF in an ED population and assessing antithrombotic use in those patients with recurrent AF. ⋯ AF is a common finding in an ED population. Many are warfarin eligible and untreated or undertreated. Methods to increase anticoagulant use in this at-risk population warrant further investigation.