Anticoagulation Benefits and Risks

Anticoagulation therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF) is discussed in terms of its risk-reduction profile for stroke prevention. The average reduction in stroke risk is indeed small, with a moderate-risk patient seeing a decrease from a 3.3% to 1.5% annual risk. This asymmetry in risk perception complicates patient discussions, as the catastrophic nature of strokes can lead many to prefer anticoagulation despite small absolute benefits. Patients often weigh benefits against the potential for bleeding, with a common mindset being a preference for temporary hospitalization over the dire consequences of a stroke.