What are the benefits of anticoagulation therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation?
Anticoagulation therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation has been associated with a 64% relative risk reduction in stroke, leading to an absolute risk reduction of 2.7% per year in primary prevention subjects and 8.4% per year in secondary prevention subjects. Additionally, a meta-analysis of 8 trials of 4,876 subjects found that anticoagulation therapy compared with control or placebo was associated with a 22% (95% CI, 6-35) relative risk reduction in stroke. However, the Stroke Prevention in AF (SPAF-I) study demonstrated a decrease in risk of stroke from 6.3% per year in placebo subjects to 3.6% per year, although a meta-analysis of 7 trials of 3,990 subjects found no significant benefit.  