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Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or venous thromboembolism (VTE) who receive prescriptions for warfarin also might take aspirin for reasons that do not conform to recommended indications. This dual therapy might expose them to unnecessary bleeding risks. Researchers identified 6500 patients in six Michigan anticoagulation clinics who were receiving warfarin for AF or VTE for at least 3 months; patients had no heart valve replacements or myocardial infarctions in the previous 6 months.
More than one third of patients were taking aspirin, mostly low dose (i.e., ≤100 mg/day). At 1-year follow-up, after adjustment for comorbidities, other medications, and history of bleeding or thrombosis, patients taking both aspirin and warfarin, compare…