Is the Risk of Bleeding Among Older Adults With Atrial Fibrillation Lower With Antiplatelet Compared With Oral Anticoagulants?

Several systematic reviews have previously shown that the risk of bleeding with long-term treatment with aspirin was lower than with warfarin.2,3 It is common clinical practice to use antiplatelet agents as alternatives to anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation and low risk of stroke or for those with contraindications to anticoagulants. However, the latest guidelines no longer recommend the use of aspirin for atrial fibrillation regardless of age.4 Although it is well known that age increases the risk of bleeding, this systematic review aimed to evaluate whether bleeding risk is equivalent among all antithrombotic drugs.

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