Simpler but Safe? New Oral Anticoagulant Therapies Versus Warfarin to Reduce Stroke Risk in Older Atrial Fibrillation Patients

Moderator: Susan Zieman, MD, PhD, FACC, National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health
Atrial fibrillation markedly increases in incidence, prevalence and associated poor outcomes with advancing age. This case-based symposium revisits the risks and benefits of chronic anticoagulation in older adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, including new oral therapies (direct thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors) which do not require monitoring. The objectives of this symposium are 1) to emphasize the age-specific stroke vs. bleeding risk in chronic non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients 2) to reveal misconceptions on anticoagulation risk in older patients and introduce strategies to reduce poor outcomes in this cohort 3) to review the evidence and age-specific use of warfarin in chronic afib and 4) to review efficacy and safety data for new oral anticoagulation therapies including dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban in seniors.

Mantras and Myths: Clarifying the Challenges of Anticoagulation in Older Adults with Chronic Atrial Fibrillation
Michael Chen, MD, FACC, University of Washington

Warfarin in Seniors: When and How
Gregory Piazza, MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, Apixaban: Better than Warfarin in Older Afib Patients?
Susan Cheng, MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital