NICE recommends use of newer drugs for atrial fibrillation patients

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance calling for atrial fibrillation patients to receive newer therapies as a matter of course.

Its latest quality standard on the treatment and management of the condition recommends that patients above a certain risk threshold should be offered newer anticoagulants – such as apixaban, dabigatran etexilate, rivaroxaban or a vitamin K antagonist like warfarin – rather than aspirin.

It also recommends that patients who are prescribed anticoagulants should discuss their options with their doctor at least once a year in order to improve adherence to treatment.

Patients should have their treatment reassessed if they are taking a vitamin K antagonist and have poor anticoagulation control, with a referral to specialist management within four weeks made for those with symptoms that are uncontrolled by anticoagulation.

Professor Gillian Leng, deputy chief executive and director of health and social care at NICE, said: "It's important that people with atrial fibrillation have their condition managed effectively in order to eliminate the significant risk of stroke and prevent deterioration in their quality of life."

It is estimated that around 800,000 people in the UK have atrial fibrillation, with around 250,000 of these cases being undiagnosed.