Decision model favors left atrial appendage occlusion over oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in patients at highest risk for bleeding

A decision model found that the relative clinical benefit of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) and oral anticoagulants (OAC) in patients with atrial fibrillation depends on the patients’ baseline risks for stroke and bleeding. LAAOs were found to be the preferred strategy in those with the highest bleeding risk. This benefit became less certain with increasing risk for ischemic stroke and decreasing bleeding risk. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.