Meta-analysis of ischemic stroke or systemic embolism.

<p>There was no difference in the rate of major bleeding [OR 1.06 (95% CI 0.42–2.62); I² 0%] or vascular death [OR 1.04 (95% CI 0.61–1.75); I² 1%] but patients treated with aspirin had an increased risk in all-cause mortality [OR 1.66 (95% CI 1.12–2.48); I² 0%] (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0142222#pone.0142222.g003" target="_blank">Fig 3</a>). The difference in all-cause mortality was driven by an increased risk in non-vascular death in patients treated with aspirin [OR 3.20(95% CI 1.31–7.82); I² 0%], whereas the risk for death from unknown causes not significantly different [OR 1.525 (95% CI 0.65–3.55; I² 0%]. <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0142222#pone.0142222.t004" target="_blank">Table 4</a> provides the number of events in each study.</p

Quality assessment.

<p>AFASAK: Second Copenhagen Atrial Fibrillation, Aspirin, and Anticoagulation; PATAF: Primary Prevention of Arterial Thromboembolism in patients with Non-rheumatic Atrial Fibrillation in Primary Care</p><p>Quality assessment.</p

Characteristics of the studies included in the main analysis.

<p>AFASAK: Second Copenhagen Atrial Fibrillation, Aspirin, and Anticoagulation;</p><p>PATAF: Primary Prevention of Arterial Thromboembolism in patients with Non-rheumatic Atrial Fibrillation in Primary Care;</p><p>HTN: Hypertension; DBT: Diabetes; HF: Heart Failure; TTR: Time in therapeutic range</p><p>Characteristics of the studies included in the main analysis.</p

All cause mortality meta-analysis.

<p>The addition of a study arm from the AFASAK study [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0142222#pone.0142222.ref013" target="_blank">13</a>] comparing aspirin vs. low-intensity anticoagulation plus aspirin did not modify any of the estimates including the reduction in all-cause mortality [OR 1.66(95% CI 1.15–2.38); I² 0%]. <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0142222#pone.0142222.t003" target="_blank">Table 3</a> presents a summary of the number of individual events from each study.</p

Current recommendation for the use of aspirin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

<p>OAC: Oral anticoagulation; AF: Atrial Fibrillation</p><p>Current recommendation for the use of aspirin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.</p