Oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: Using routinely collected data to close evidence-practice gaps

Atrial fibrillation is a common age-related cardiac arrhythmia, which is associated with an increased risk of severe disabling stroke and premature death. Warfarin has been principal anticoagulant used to prevent stroke and death, until the global introduction of four new anticoagulants. This thesis comprises a series of population-based studies using routinely collected healthcare data from Australia, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong which provide important information regarding the real-world safety and effectiveness of the new anticoagulants compared to warfarin, in older, frailer patients with atrial fibrillation - who were underrepresented in the landmark clinical trials.