[Stroke risk stratification in atrial fibrillation: oral anticoagulant therapy and bleeding risk in the elderly]

An accurate stratification of thromboembolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation is crucial to identify those who may benefit of oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT). Despite an increase of bleeding risk with aging, the efficacy of OAT in stroke prevention is maintained also in elderly patients. A careful management of OAT, that can be obtained in clinical practice in devoted agencies, allows to keep the risk of bleeding complications acceptably low also in elderly patients.