This Study Uses the SITS Registry to Find Out When Patients With a Heart Rhythm Disorder (Atrial Fibrillation) Start Treatment With Dabigatran After They Had a Stroke

To evaluate the timing of dabigatran treatment initiation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) after hospitalization for first ever ischaemic stroke (the index event) in order to prevent secondary stroke.

The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and dabigatran initiation timing information. The NIHSS is a scale of stroke severity with 15 items and a score range from 0 to 42. 0 = no stroke; 1-4 = minor stroke; 5-15 = moderate stroke; 15-20 = moderate/severe stroke; 21-42 = severe stroke. Results were reported according to their dabigatran initiation timing categories.

Previous Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) collected at first ever ischaemic stroke (index event). The Modified Rankin scale (mRS) is Scored as follows: 0 = No symptoms, 1 = No significant disability. Able to carry out all usual activities, despite some symptoms, 2 = Slight disability. Able to look after own affairs without assistance, but unable to carry out all previous activities, 3 = Moderate disability. Requires some help, but able to walk unassisted, 4 = Moderately severe disability. Unable to attend to own bodily needs without assistance, and unable to walk unassisted, 5 = Severe disability. Requires constant nursing care and attention, bedridden, incontinent, 6 = Death. Higher scores indicate worse outcome. Results were reported according to their dabigatran initiation timing categories.

Age of patients according to their start dabigatran time period. Results were reported according to their dabigatran initiation timing categories. CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED were used in the statistical analysis. CHA2DS2-VASc is the Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age (> 75), Diabetes mellitus, Stroke/transient ischemic attack(TIA), Vascular disease, Age 65-74, Sex Category score. HAS-BLED is the Hypertension, Abnormal renal and liver function, Stroke (1 point), Bleeding history or predisposition, Labile international normalised ratio (INR), Elderly (>65 years), Drugs and Alcohol Score.

Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of patients according to their start dabigatran time period. Results were reported according to their dabigatran initiation timing categories.

The Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age (> 75), Diabetes mellitus, Stroke/TIA, Vascular disease, Age 65-74, Sex Category (CHA2DS2-VASc) score of patients according to their start dabigatran time period. CHA2DS2-VASc is used to determine the need for an anticoagulation therapy, relating the high scores to a great risk of stroke and a low score corresponds to a lower risk of stroke. CHA2DS2-VASc stroke risk score ranges from 0 to 9 with 0 being the best outcome. Results were reported according to their dabigatran initiation timing categories.

The Hypertension, Abnormal renal and liver function, Stroke (1 point), Bleeding history or predisposition, Labile INR, Elderly (>65 years), Drugs and Alcohol (HAS-BLED) Score of patients according to their start dabigatran time period. HAS-BLED score ranges from 0 to 9 with higher scores indicating greater risk of bleeding. Results were reported according to their dabigatran initiation timing categories.

Percentage of patients with History of or predisposition to bleeding according to their start dabigatran time period. Results were reported according to their dabigatran initiation timing categories.

Number of time the corresponding reason to delay oral anticoagulation (OAC) entered by physicians. More than one reasons could be entered for each patient. Index event was defined as the first ever acute ischemic stroke that led to hospital admission for eligible patients.

Physicians' reason to delay dabigatran initiation according to their start dabigatran time period. More than one reasons could be entered for each patient. Index event was defined as the first ever acute ischemic stroke that led to hospital admission for eligible patients.

Number of times of corresponding reason of choosing daily dosage of 220 milligram of dabigatran entered by physicians. More than one reasons could be entered for each patient. Index event was defined as the first ever acute ischemic stroke that led to hospital admission for eligible patients.

Number of times the corresponding reason for choosing daily dosage of 300 milligram of dabigatran entered by physicians. More than one reasons could be entered for each patient. Index event was defined as the first ever acute ischemic stroke that led to hospital admission for eligible patients.