Older patients with AF who were on anticoagulation tended to underestimate their risk, with possible implications for shared decision-making.
Patient-informed choice relies on an accurate understanding of risk and benefit. In SAGE-AF (Systematic Assessment of Geriatric Elements in Atrial Fibrillation), a prospective cohort study, researchers assessed understanding of bleeding risk among patients 65 years or older (mean, 75; 48% women; 86% non-Hispanic white) with atrial fibrillation who had a CHA2DS2-VASc risk score ≥2 and were on anticoagulation for stroke prevention.
The investigators estimated the “objective” 1-year bleeding risk for each patient using the HAS-BLED score, a validated instrument. Participants were asked, “If you are taking an anticoagulant, what do you think your annual risk of having a major bleeding episode (e.g., around your heart, in your brain, in your stom…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardUnited Healthcare; Element Science; Eyedentifeye, F-Prime
EquityHugo Health; Refactor Health; Element Science
Grant/Research SupportPfizer; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; Janssen Research and Development, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Engineering; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Cancer Institute; American Heart Association
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardUnited Healthcare; Element Science; Eyedentifeye, F-Prime
EquityHugo Health; Refactor Health; Element Science
Grant/Research SupportPfizer; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; Janssen Research and Development, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Engineering; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Cancer Institute; American Heart Association