PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Tracy Hagerty
AU  - Michael W. Rich
TI  - Fall risk and anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation in the elderly: A delicate balance
AID  - 10.3949/ccjm.84a.16016
DP  - 2017 Jan 01
TA  - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
PG  - 35--40
VI  - 84
IP  - 1
4099  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/84/1/35.short
4100  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/84/1/35.full
SO  - Cleve Clin J Med2017 Jan 01; 84
AB  - Guidelines for managing atrial fibrillation recommend systemic anticoagulation for almost all patients age 65 and older, but in practice up to 50% of older patients do not receive maintenance anticoagulation therapy. The most common reason physicians cite for withholding anticoagulation in older patients with atrial fibrillation is a perception of a high risk of falling and associated bleeding, especially intracranial hemorrhage.