Average age to be placed on blood thinners?

[Colutd]

Hi

At what age do AF sufferers usually get put on blood thinner medications?

My annual reviews have gone from one to ones with a consultant to a blood test at the doctors so I can’t ask.

Thanks

[Hidden]

I was 65, I turn 75 in September this year. I was put on Warfarin by the Cardio Consultant who treated me in A& E.

[CDreamer]

If you have AF your risk factor are calculated by using a scoring system. Being over 65 gives you 1 point on the ChadsVasc score - being female = 1 point.

1 = advised to take a/c’s

2+ = take as a prophylactic to reduce stroke risk

If you want to know anything like that you can go to the AFA web-site and look it up and there is a link to the scoring system. heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Hope that helps.

[Cat04]

I was 56 when I started taking warfarin, changed to Apixiban a couple of years ago.

[BobD Volunteer]

Anticoagulation is not age related at all . It is risk related. OK so Age is the A in ChadsVasc but only a small part of it. It is possible to be prescribed anticoagulation at any age even twenties if the risk evaluation score advises. Anybody who presents with AF regardless of age should be assessed and there are many people who believe that AF should mean anticoagulation full stop.

Ablation would require anticoagulation in any event.

To wrongly quote that song "Whats age( love) got to do with it?"

[RichMert in reply to BobD]

Hi Bob, when I noticed this one I was hoping you would respond to it.

I know you elected to remain on blood thinners even after ablation and mentioned my concerns recently to my doctor. After 2 AF ablations and a family history of AF and Stroke, I asked when I should consider a blood thinner as a precaution. In response he said that I do not display any of the requirements for considering anticoagulants.

My concern is that anybody could suffer a stroke or heart attack but some of us are surely at a greater risk even though our heart blips are only seconds now as opposed to hours.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to RichMert]

I think it important to see what your Chadsvasc score is. Remember when calculating this that once given a score can not be removed so for instance even if you have high blood pressure that is normal with treatment then you still count this.

As I have said before ablation does not remove stroke risk but some doctors do not always agree with this. I know that you would have been put on anticoagulation ( I hate that blood thinners inaccuracy. They don't !) for your ablations so really do not understand stopping. AF makes us five times more at risk of stroke so any co -morbidities and I include family history must enforce that view I am sure. There are several members here who have had strokes after being told to stop anticoagulants so i suggest that you see your doctor again and tell him that you will hold him personally responsible in the event that it happens to you. Ask him for his guarantee in writing and watch his response. lol

[RichMert in reply to BobD]

I thought it was impossible to decipher a doctors writing. lol. Yes I am on BP tablets now...following my 'Christmas Over done' entry. That said, I had to tell him that I thought my BP was high before he checked. 55 now and will ask again if I am unable to get my cholesterol down using Cider Vinegar.

[Colutd]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

However, I am still concerned you get assessed when you first get AF but when do we get reviewed / reassessed? Surely things change as we get older?

I was considered low risk a few years ago but if all I’m having is a blood test and BP taken etc, how is it known I’m still low risks of strokes etc?

DB

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Colutd]

Do your CHADS2Vasc score. Simple.

[Hidden]

As BobD has said, it’s your ChadsVasc score which determines whether or not you need to be on anticoagulants. If it is 1 you are advised to consider taking anticoagulants. If is 2 or more you should take anticoagulants and that Is normally for life. For what it is worth, if you are female and over 65 you are generally considered to have a score of 2. Nothing is likely to ever change the NEED to be anti coagulated. If anticoagulation has not been discussed with you Doctor or Nurse then do it now. In terms of changes in your condition, if you feel any deterioration in your condition the onus is on you to advise your Doctor and if necessary, ask to be referred. Some surgeries may be proactive but sadly the majority are not.

[Jjda]

As has been stated above, for someone with diagnosed Afib, being female and over 65 is usually an automatic sentence to anti-coagulants. If you are male, and over 65, and have no other conditions on the ChadsVasc list, you will probably be allowed to avoid them, but advised to keep close track of both your Afib episodes, but also your blood pressure and

diabetes risk. If you are under 65, have high blood pressure (or diabetes) and are female, then, again, you are a candidate for lifelong anti-coagulants, but if you are male, again, you may be able to avoid them. It's more a gender thing, than an age thing, unless you have multiple conditions.

[Thomas45]

Jjda sees being on anticoagulants as a "sentence". I see them as a trusty companion.

[Jjda in reply to Thomas45]

lol, Thomas45. Maybe "sentence" was a little strong. "Necessary Evil" might be a better description of how I feel about them. But, if there is ever a safe way to get off them, sign me up!

[Horse57]

Prior to my Ablation I had height BP. I am 62 and not a diabetic. Since ablation I have no more blood pressure issues. My EP wants me off of everything after 90-120 days post ablation. I am having an issue in my left eye that is most likely related to the ac. I have a blood vessel that is continually leaking blood in the corner of my eye. Of course that’s concerning to me. I plan on using supplements as I did before that naturally anticoagulate the blood. It’s a catch 22 for sure.

[sportscoach]

I score 0 on chads....no risks, under 60yrs etc.

I asked the question how many people in my position had gone on to have a stroke and where could i find some statistics/information on the subject? unfortunately the answer I got was very vague.

The medics agree the chads is not the most scientific method ever invented but its all they have at the moment although, they are looking at developing a blood test.

In my case I weighed up Bleeding risk against stroke risk and decided to take an anticoagulant.

[Colutd in reply to sportscoach]

I scored zero too but your so right, the risk of a stroke against taking anticoagulants seems too much for me. I think I’d rather take them just in case. Do we get a choice though or do we have to accept a GPS advise?

It’s a pity there are no stats to signify how many have suffered a stroke whilst scoring zero on the chads.

Thanks for your response

DB

[sportscoach in reply to Colutd]

I originally started anticoagulants so they could carry out an ablation I was told I could come off the medication after the procedure however, when I asked those questions mentioned previously there has never been much of a reply or advice probably, because they cannot be sure theirselves.

I still get AF so decided to continue to take the medication no one has argued or tried to persuade me otherwise I guess this is a grey area with no really scientific test to go on.