Stroke is a preventable disease. A neurologist in the UK said that about 1,000 cases of stroke each year could be prevented if a person is taking blood-thinning medication.
"We have too few patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) which is one risk factor for stroke get the care they need," said Prof. Martin Cowie of the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London
AF is a condition that can cause blood coagulation in the heart so as to form clots that then lead to a stroke. This situation could increase the risk of stroke by 20-fold.
Professor Cowie said there are massive improvements in treating high blood pressure and cholesterol (a risk factor for stroke). But no similar improvement in people with AF, because only 1 in 4 people diagnosed with AF who received thinning drug warfarin.
The nature of the blood-thinning drug is so powerful that can cause dangerous bleeding, so patients should continue to be monitored regularly in the hospital. As a result, sometimes doctors are reluctant to prescribe warfarin, ironically, especially in patients who are most at risk.
"We have too few patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) which is one risk factor for stroke get the care they need," said Prof. Martin Cowie of the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London
AF is a condition that can cause blood coagulation in the heart so as to form clots that then lead to a stroke. This situation could increase the risk of stroke by 20-fold.
Professor Cowie said there are massive improvements in treating high blood pressure and cholesterol (a risk factor for stroke). But no similar improvement in people with AF, because only 1 in 4 people diagnosed with AF who received thinning drug warfarin.
The nature of the blood-thinning drug is so powerful that can cause dangerous bleeding, so patients should continue to be monitored regularly in the hospital. As a result, sometimes doctors are reluctant to prescribe warfarin, ironically, especially in patients who are most at risk.
"At least 1 million people in Britain have AF, and many of them are not as they should be getting warfarin. I would say 1,000 patients or more patients who have a stroke each year could be prevented if patients receive blood-thinning medications," said Professor Cowie.
Currently there is a new drug is more effective than warfarin prevents stroke, but did not interact with other drugs or foods so as not to require regular monitoring.
"But the price is more expensive so it may not be affordable for many people who need blood thinners. For that about 10-20 percent of patients receiving warfarin should be considered," he said.
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