Hellemons BSP, Langenberg M, Lodder J et al. Primary prevention of arterial thromboembolism in non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation in primary care: randomised controlled trial comparing two intensities of coumarin with aspirin. Br Med J 1999;319:958-64.
[Medline reference]
This is a Dutch study in a primary care population which compared 150mg aspirin per day with anticoagulation to give an INR in the range 1.1 to 1.6 or in the range 2.5 to 3.5. No benefit in thromboembolism reduction was observed from anticoagulation after an average of 2.7 years, and the authors conclude that aspirin should be the first choice for patients with atrial fibrillation in general practice.
What's in the medical press? - The rapidly changing situation in primary care means that it is often difficult to keep up to date with what is happening politically and clinically. This section of Primary Care Pharmacy will try to pick out a few articles that may be useful in day-to-day practice or have importance for the primary care role.