Cognitive impairment in patients with atrial fibrillation: What is the importance of anticoagulant therapy?

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation represents one of the most significant aging markers and its prevalence increases with age, reaching 11.1% in men and 9.1% in women aged over 85 years. Fragility is nowadays defined according to two different phenotypes: the biologic-physiologic phenotype developed by L. Fried and Baltimora School and the clinic-multidimensional phenotype, proposed by Rock-wood and Halifax School. If the clinical characteristics of elder patients hospitalized in acute geriatric unit care are considered, differences appear in the clinical features, in co-morbidity, in therapy and prognosis.