Anticoagulant treatment on chronic non-valvalar atrial fibrillation in the elderly patients

Objective To compare the effects of aspirin and warfarin in the elderly patients with chronic nonvalve atrial fibrillation.Methods 431 elderly patients with chronic non-valvalar atrial fibrillation were randomly divided into two groups: group A received aspirin; group B received warfarin.After patients were treated with aspirin or warfarin for two years,the incidence rate of stroke and hemorrhage rate were counted. Results Aspirin was as effective as warfarin in preventing stroke in patients age 65 to 75 years old without risk factor,and warfarin was more effective than aspirin in preventing stroke in patients (≥75) and all patients with risk factors. Warfarin and aspirin had low incidence rate of bleeding. Conclusion For the patients aged 65 to 75 years old have no risk factors, they should be treated with aspirin in preventing stroke .For the older patients older than 75 years old and patients have risk factors, they should be treated with warfarin,which is more efficient than asprin in preventing stroke.