Primary Care Pharmacy June 2000 Vol 1 No 3 p88

Journal Club

Atrial fibrillation

Kalra L, Yu G, Perez I, Lakhani A, Donaldson N. Prospective cohort study to determine if trial efficacy of anticoagulation for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation translates into clinical effectiveness. BMJ 2000;320:1236-9.

A two-year study to determine whether trial efficacy of prophylaxis with warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation at high risk of stroke translates into effectiveness in clinical practice. The investigators concluded that the case for long-term anticoagulation is strengthened by this study, even in elderly subjects.

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.