Continuous cardiac monitoring detects brief, asymptomatic, heart rhythm abnormalities in one-third of older individuals and these symptoms are associated with an increased risk of stroke. The ARTESiA trial clearly demonstrates that use of the blood thinner apixaban reduces patient risk of stroke compared to treatment with aspirin, but is associated with an increased risk of bleeding.

In this interview, Jeff S. Healey, MD, and Thomas F. Deering MD, FACC, discuss AHA Late-Breaker: Apixaban for the Prevention of Stroke in Patients With Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation.

Related References:

1. Apixaban for stroke prevention in subclinical atrial fibrillation. Healey JS et al. New England Journal of Medicine 2023 November - simultaneous publication
2. Direct Oral Anticoagulants for Stroke Prevention in Patients with Device-Detected Atrial Fibrillation: A Study-Level Meta-Analysis of the NOAH-AFNET 6 and ARTESiA Trials . McIntyre WF, et al. Circulation November 2023 - simultaneous publication