CAFACanadian Atrial Fibrillation Anticoagulation study |
| Authors: |
(a) Connolly SJ, Laupacis A, Gent M, Roberts RS, Cairns JA, Joyner C et al
(b) Laupacis A, Sullivan K |
| Titles: |
(a) Canadian Atrial Fibrillation Anticoagulation (CAFA) study
(b) Canadian Atrial Fibrillation Anticoagulation Study: were the patients subsequently treated with warfarin? |
| References: |
(a) J Am Coll Cardiol 1991;18:349-55
(b) Can Med Assoc J 1996;154:1669-74 |
| Disease: |
Atrial fibrillation (non-rheumatic) |
| Purpose: |
To assess the efficacy of warfarin in reducing stroke and other systemic embolisms in non-valvular atrial fibrillation |
| Study Design: |
Randomised, double-blind, placebo- controlled |
| Follow-up: |
Up to 2.75 years; mailed questionnaire 21 months after end of study |
| Patients: |
378 patients (original aim 630) |
| Treatmentregimen: |
Warfarin titrated to an international normalised ratio of 2.0-3.0, or placebo |
| Results: |
The annual rate of primary outcome events (non-lacunar ischaemic stroke, other systemic embolism, intracranial or fatal haemorrhage) was 3.5% in the warfarin group and 5.2% in the placebo group (p = 0.26; risk reduction 37%). Fatal or major bleeding occurred at annual rates of 2.5% in warfarin-treated and 0.5% in placebo- treated patients. Minor bleeding occurred in 16% of patients receiving warfarin and 9% of those receiving placebo. After the end of the study, 60% of the patients continued warfarin, 6% continued warfarin but then stopped, 23% took aspirin, 2% took aspirin but then stopped, and 9% took neither drug. Patients were significantly more likely to take warfarin if they had received it during the trial than if they had received placebo |
