Heart Podcast Anticoagulant prescribing for atrial fibrillation and risk of incident dementia
Jan 27, 2022
Dr. Charlotte Warren-Gash and Dr. Sharon Cadogan from LSHTM discuss their study showing DOACs are linked to lower dementia rates. They explore the connection between atrial fibrillation and dementia, compare anticoagulant drugs, and analyze the impact on dementia risk. The study emphasizes the benefits of DOACs over Warfarin in reducing dementia risk among atrial fibrillation patients.
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Atrial Fibrillation Prevalence and Risk Factors
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disturbance, affecting around 1.4 million older people in the UK.
- It's more common in men and increases with age, often co-occurring with conditions like high blood pressure and atherosclerosis.
Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment
- The study focused on new diagnoses of all-cause dementia, including vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
- It also examined mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an earlier stage with memory and cognitive changes but not necessarily impacting daily function.
Existing Research on Anticoagulants and Dementia
- While studies show oral anticoagulants reduce dementia risk compared to no anticoagulants, few directly compare different types.
- This study aimed to compare the impact of DOACs and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) on dementia incidence.