My patient with atrial fibrillation (AF) with a CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2 is not a candidate for anticoagulation due to excessive bleeding risk. Does high-dose aspirin provide an effective alternative for stroke prevention in this setting?

 The SPAF (Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation) trial1 found a 42% reduction in overall risk of stroke with daily aspirin (325 mg). However, critics note that no benefit was observed among patients > 75 y or those with severe stroke.

7 other studies on the topic failed to confirm reduction in the risk of stroke at a range of aspirin doses (25mg bid-1,300mg qd) 2. These studies reported that aspirin is associated with a 19% reduction in stroke incidence (similar to patients with vascular disease), with a 95% CI that crosses zero (-1% to 35%), raising doubts about its actual benefit in AF3. For secondary prevention, aspirin was associated with a 2.5% reduction in the annual risk of stroke. However, these results were influenced by the only trial with a favorable outcome, SPAF-14.

In short, even at higher doses, aspirin may not be the answer for stroke prevention in patients with AF.

 References

  1. Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Study. Final results. Circulation 1991;84, 527–39.
  2. January CT, Wann LS, Alpert  JS, et al. 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS Guideline for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society. Circulation  2014;130, e199–e267.
  3. European Heart Rhythm Association et al. Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation: the Task Force for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Europace  2010; 12, 1360–420.
  4. Sabir IN, Matthews GDK,  Huang, CL-H. Antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation: aspirin is rarely the right choice. Postgrad Med J 2013; 89, 346–51.

 

Contributed by Jacqueline Boehme, M.D., Medical Resident, Mass General Hospital

My patient with atrial fibrillation (AF) with a CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2 is not a candidate for anticoagulation due to excessive bleeding risk. Does high-dose aspirin provide an effective alternative for stroke prevention in this setting?

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