Mathew Gray, (Class of 2018) recently published his research findings in Journal American Heart Association. In this piece, “Outcomes of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Newly Recommended for Oral Anticoagulation under the 2014 American Heart Association/ American College of Cardiology/ Heart Rhythm Society Guideline”, Gray and his mentor Assistant Professor Inma Hernandez, PharmD, PhD, evaluated whether patients with atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) and an intermediate risk of stroke should be initiated on blood thinners. They found that the use of blood thinners in this population, which was not recommended by the AHA/ACC/HRS guidelines until 2014, did not reduce the risk of stroke, systemic embolism or death. However, the use of blood thinners increased the risk of bleeding.

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