We also explicitly considered that outpatient antithrom- botic therapy was associated with a burden to the patient, which in some cases, such as aspirin, is a requirement to take a daily medication, or in other cases, such as adjusted-dose VKA therapy, is not only a requirement to take a daily medication but also a requirement to limit one s lifestyle, restrict one s diet, and undergo e536S Antithrombotic Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation Table [Introduction] Clinical Questions Addressed in This Article Section Population Intervention Comparator Outcomes of Interest Available Methodology 2. Patients with AF in general Patients with nonrheumatic AF Adjusted-dose VKA No therapy Death Nonfatal strokes Nonfatal major extracranial bleeds Systemic embolism Procedural complications (for percutaneous closure of left atrial appendage only) RCTs Antiplatelet monotherapy (eg, aspirin) No therapy VKA Antiplatelet monotherapy (eg, aspirin) VKA Aspirin clopidogrel Aspirin clopidogrel Aspirin New oral anticoagulants VKA Dabigatran VKA Percutaneous closure of left atrial appendage VKA RCTs Cohort studies Patients with AF and mitral stenosis VKA No therapy, antiplatelet monotherapy (eg, aspirin), or aspirin clopidogrel Cohort studies 3. Management of antithrombotic therapy for patients with AF in special situations Patients with AF and stable coronary artery disease VKA aspirin VKA Death Nonfatal strokes Nonfatal MI Nonfatal major extracranial bleeds Systemic embolism Cohort studies Patients with AF and placement of an intracoronary stent (with or without recent ACS) VKA aspirin clopidogrel Aspirin clopidogrel Patients with AF and ACS who do not undergo intracoronary stent placement VKA aspirin Aspirin clopidogrel VKA aspirin clopidogrel Patients with AF being managed with a rhythm control strategy VKA No VKA Death Nonfatal strokes Nonfatal major extracranial bleeds Systemic embolism Patients with chronic atrial utter Antithrombotic therapy options as per section 4. Patients with AF undergoing cardioversion Patients with AF of . 