Many Patients At Risk For Stroke Get Wrong Medicine, University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Study
More than a third of patients with a heart rhythm problem that can cause a stroke are incorrectly given aspirin instead of the blood-thinning medications they need to make this complication less likely, a U.S. study suggests.
Most strokes occur when an artery that carries blood to the brain gets blocked by a clot. While aspirin can prevent clots, it doesn't work well as blood thinners to prevent stroke in these patients, guidelines say.
Researchers analyzed data on more than 500,000 people with atrial fibrillation, an irregular rapid heartbeat that can lead to stroke, heart failure and chronic fatigue.
Most strokes occur when an artery that carries blood to the brain gets blocked by a clot. While aspirin can prevent clots, it doesn't work well as blood thinners to prevent stroke in these patients, guidelines say.
Researchers analyzed data on more than 500,000 people with atrial fibrillation, an irregular rapid heartbeat that can lead to stroke, heart failure and chronic fatigue.