This non-interventional study will focus specifically on the patient characteristics, management pathways, and patient reported experiences associated with real world use of three direct anti-FXa oral anticoagulants (DOAC) commonly used within United Kingdom clinical practice; apixaban, rivaroxaban and edoxaban.~The primary objective will describe the demographics, clinical characteristics and medical history of patients presenting with a first ischaemic stroke with AF who have not received anticoagulation (for any reason) in the 12 months prior to stroke, by type of anticoagulant treatment subsequently prescribed for secondary prophylaxis of stroke.~Secondary objectives of the study will describe management pathways of patients initiated on DOACs (apixaban, edoxaban or rivaroxaban) for secondary prophylaxis of stroke, including timing and reasons for any dose changes or treatment switches to alternative anticoagulants; describe hospital resource use and clinical assessments associated with DOAC treatment for secondary prophylaxis of stroke; describe real world patient-reported adherence to DOACs for secondary prophylaxis of stroke; and describe patient experience and treatment satisfaction for patients receiving DOAC therapy for secondary prophylaxis of stroke.
National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance recommends anticoagulation for stroke prevention in high risk patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF).~Early evidence suggest that patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who do not receive anticoagulation are more likely to experience a stroke. However, the characteristics of patients experiencing a first AF-related stroke in real-world settings, who have not been receiving anticoagulation, have not been well documented.~It is unclear how the direct anti-FXa oral anticoagulants have been used within real world practice since the introduction of edoxaban in 2015.