Advancing Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation: The Emerging Role of Factor Xa Inhibition

1Despitethisfigure,onlya fractionofpatientswithAFandmoderatetohighstrokerisk actuallyreceivewarfarin,andlessthanhalfofthosepatients have an international normalized ratio (INR) in the thera peuticrange(ie, 2.0 ‐3.0). 1-7 Thus,thereisadesperateneed forneworalanticoagulantsthatwillallowmorepatientsto be treated, and also allow more patients to receive pre dictableandeffectiveanticoagulation.Thisissueof Cardiol ogy Scientific Update presents the current data on the risk andclinicalimpactofstrokesecondarytoAF,andtheemerg ingevidencesupportingthebenefitandsafetyofagentsthat inhibitfactorXa. The Burden of AF-Related Stroke