Elderly people at risk of stroke could lower that risk to a greater extent by taking warfarin rather than aspirin, a new study has concluded.
Aspirin is widely used to prevent heart attack and stroke and both it and warfarin reduce the risk of blood clots forming in important blood vessels.
After studying people aged 75 or over with a risk factor for stroke who were taking one of the two drugs, UK researchers found that those taking warfarin were less than half as likely to suffer a serious event (52 per cent lower risk) as those taking aspirin.
They studied 973 patients, all of whom had atrial fibrillation - a particular type of irregular heartbeat that can increase the risk of stroke.
Of this number, 488 received warfarin and 485 received aspirin. They were followed up for an average of 2.7 years.
Both groups were analysed for incidences of fatal or disabling stroke, intracranial haemorrhage and clinically significant arterial embolism.
Publishing their findings in the Lancet medical journal, the researchers say that the aspirin group saw 48 serious events 44 strokes, one intracranial haemorrhage, and three systemic emboli.
In comparison the warfarin group saw half that number 21 strokes, two intracranial haemorrhages and one systemic embolus.
The researchers conclude that their findings show warfarin could safely be used much more widely by older people.
They also note that they found warfarin to be no more hazardous than aspirin therapy in this age group.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Isabel Lee for the Stroke Association said: 'Atrial fibrillation is an important risk factor for stroke and is found in 15 per cent of all stroke patients. Identifying warfarin as preventative measure for this age group is a welcome step forward in stroke prevention.
'This research also reinforces the need for good clinic practise in identifying atrial fibrillation which can be done through taking a patients pulse. If healthcare professionals are conscientious about taking a pulse most patients with atrial fibrillation could be detected and consequently lives could be saved.'
Stroke is currently England and Wales' third largest killer, with 150,000 people suffering from stroke each year in the UK.
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