The goal of this observational study is to learn about the effects of antiplatelet drugs on patients over the age of 80 with atrial fibrillation. The main question it aims to answer is: -Is platelet reactivity effectively controlled in patients over the age of 80 diagnosed with atrial fibrillation following the Watchman procedure.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death and the risk for morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease is thought to increases with age. Platelets play a key role in cardiovascular disease as their activation is essential for the formation of an arterial thrombus, the precursor to myocardial infarction and stroke. Additionally, thrombosis has been shown to be linked to cardiac pathologies including atrial fibrillation. The link between optimal prevention of thrombosis and limiting the risk associated with increased bleeding has not been fully elucidated. Hence, our understanding of the prothrombotic state of the platelet and thrombotic risk in people over the age of 80 is not well understood. In this study, we evaluate the prothrombotic state of the platelets in patients in the cardiovascular clinic over the age of 80 diagnosed with atrial fibrillation who are taking antiplatelet medications to determine the benefits of these interventions in prevention of thrombotic events, propagation of the risk for atrial fibrillation, and bleeding
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
50
Platelet reactivity
platelet reactivity will be measured before and after antiplatelet treatment in patients over 80. Outcomes will include 1) platelet aggregation, 2) integrin activation, 3) alpha and dense granule secretion, 4) T-TAS activation, and 5) TEG.
Time frame: blood draw will occur prior to Watchman procedure and antiplatelet administration and 90 days following Watchman procedure while patients are taking antiplatelet drugs
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