Translating the Results of Randomized Trials into Clinical Practice

Numerous studies have documented under use of warfarin particularly among elderly patients. A better understanding of the discrepancy between trials and clinical practice will help inform stroke prevention strategies in this vulnerable age group. The study objective was to prospectively assess the use of antithrombotic therapy among a contemporary cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation at the time of hospital discharge. In addition to baseline characteristics, we sought to define the physician-cited reason for not prescribing warfarin for each patient.