AHA/ACC/HRS Have Released Updated Afib Guidelines
For the reduction of stroke risk, non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are now favored over warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), according to new guidelines from the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and the Heart Rhythm Society.
The new guidelines serve as a focused update to the 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS Guideline for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation, concentrating on anticoagulation following the approval of new pharmacological options and protection devices. Revisions to the catheter ablation of AF and management of AF complicating acute coronary syndrome sections and new sections on device detection of AF and weight loss were also included.
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Most notably, the new guidelines recommend the use of NOACs—including (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban) over warfarin in NOAC-eligible patients with AF, except in those with moderate-to-severe mitral steonosis or a mechanical heart valve.
“New scientific studies show that NOACs may be safer for patients because there is less risk of bleeding, and they may also be more effective at preventing blood clots than warfarin,” said Craig T January, MD, PhD, co-chair of the focused update.
“AFib patients should talk to their healthcare provider about any concerns they have about their prescribed medications and whether or not losing weight would benefit their health,” her concluded.
—Michael Potts
References:
Updated treatment guidelines for atrial fibrillation recommend a new class of blood thinners to help prevent stroke [press release]. Dallas, Texas. January 28, 2019. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/updated-treatment-guidelines-for-atrial-fibrillation-recommend-a-new-class-of-blood-thinners-to-help-prevent-stroke?preview=0eba.
Calkins H, Chenc LY, Cigarroa JE, et al. 2019 AHA/ACC/HRS focused update of the 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation [published online January 28, 2019]. Circulation. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000665