Understanding Blood Thinners for Older Stroke Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Official title: Balancing Risks and Benefits of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Older Ischemic Stroke Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11132827 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project helps doctors choose the best blood thinner for older patients who have had a stroke and also have an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $471,127 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG066672-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132827 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research focuses on older patients who have experienced an ischemic stroke and also have atrial fibrillation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not had an ischemic stroke or do not have atrial fibrillation would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
For older patients who have experienced an ischemic stroke and also have atrial fibrillation, choosing the right direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) can be tricky. While guidelines suggest DOACs over warfarin, the balance of preventing another stroke versus the risk of bleeding is different for these patients. This work uses information from large patient registries and Medicare data to find out how different DOACs compare in terms of how well they work and their safety. The goal is to create better, evidence-based ways to personalize blood thinner treatment for each patient.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more personalized and safer blood thinner choices, reducing the risk of recurrent strokes and bleeding complications for older patients.
How similar studies have gone: While DOACs are widely used, this research aims to provide new evidence on how their effectiveness and safety compare specifically for older stroke survivors with atrial fibrillation, building upon existing knowledge.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xian, Ying — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Xian, Ying
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Abbreviated heart MRI to quickly find stroke causes
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-
New AI approach to detect and predict atrial fibrillation after stroke
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-
MIND Diet for Dementia Prevention After Stroke
This project explores if a special diet called the MIND diet can help prevent memory and thinking problems in people who have recently had an ischemic stroke.
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New methods to detect and predict atrial fibrillation in post-stroke patients
This study is looking to make it easier to spot atrial fibrillation in people who have had a stroke by using smart technology that can read signals from wearable devices, helping to catch any heart issues early so that doctors can provide the right care and prevent future strokes.
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Identifying Atrial Fibrillation Risk After Stroke
This study is looking to help doctors find out which stroke patients might have hidden atrial fibrillation, so they can decide who would benefit from special heart monitoring to prevent future strokes.
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Using advanced MRI to improve treatment for acute ischemic stroke patients
This study is looking at a new way to use special MRI scans to find brain areas that are still healthy enough to treat after a stroke, even if it's been a while since the stroke happened, so that more patients can get the help they need to recover.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.