What are the relative risks of stroke and bleeding in patients with paroxysmal versus sustained (persistent or permanent) atrial fibrillation who take oral anticoagulants?
BEEM Bottom Line
Why is this study important?
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia seen in ED, and stroke risk and severity is markedly increased for these patients. Guidelines recommend use of oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) based on the CHA2DS2VASc score for assessment of stroke risk irrespective of whether the pattern is paroxysmal or sustained.[1]
Which, if any, threats to validity are most likely to have an impact on the results and how?
Thank you for your interest in the BEEM Journal!
To read the rest of this article or to access the entire collection of BEEM Critical Appraisals, please purchase a subscription at the link below.
If you would like a pre-view, click here to view some sample articles
- Article Number
- 170501
- Research Question
- Is it safe to rule out acute pulmonary embolism with stand-alone D-dimer testing below 750 µg/L?
- Article Number
- 160404
- Research Question
- What are the latest recommendations for the management of venous thromboembolism?
- Article Number
- 160205
- Research Question
- How well does oblique angle chest X-ray identify occult pneumothorax in trauma patients?
- Article Number
- 160101
- Research Question
- Is continuous positive airway pressure by helmet effective in the treatment of infants with bronchiolitis?
Premium Content Available Through Subscription
BEEM is a knowledge translation project which aims to extract the most recent, EM relevant, and valid evidence from the volumes of available medical research and deliver it to EM practitioners in an easily consumable format to help guide their clinical practice. This valuable distilled information provided by BEEM is available through BEEM's accredited CME courses or through our online journal.
A BEEM Journal Subscription will provide you with unlimited access to our entire collection of Critical Appraisals for 1 year.