In our analysis, 65% of patients with AF captured in the PharMetrics Integrated Database did not have
claims for anticoagulation therapy. Even among patients at high risk for stroke, 61% did not have a claim for an
anticoagulant. Furthermore, among patients with AF who were subsequently hospitalized for stroke, 72% did
not have a claim for an anticoagulant medication in the outpatient setting before hospitalization. Our findings,
based on data before the availability of the newer anticoagulantagents,are consistent with the past literature,providing
further evidence of the need to improve the management of AF in the outpatient setting.