Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Might Not Be Accurately Perceiving Their Risks

For patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), decisions about oral anticoagulation to reduce the risk for stroke can be challenging and depend on their accurate assumptions about the risks and benefits of this strategy. To determine patients' knowledge, investigators associated with the largest West Virginia teaching hospital invited consecutive patients with AF presenting to an outpatient clinic or admitted to a low-acuity, non–critical care inpatient service to participate in an interview.

Of 287 interviewed patients, 21% were unaware that AF was associated with an increased stroke risk and were excluded from further questions. The 227 remaining patients (mean age, 72; 55% men; high school education or less, 70%) had a mean CHA₂DS₂-VASC scor…