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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia which increases the risk of stroke and systemic embolism by 5- fold, it is a major global public health problem. Stroke is associated with greatest mortality and morbidity in patients with AF. Strokes associated with AF are especially large and disabling, and consequently primary prevention is paramount. Antithrombotic therapy is the mainstay of stroke prevention. Vitamin K antagonists (VKA's) have been the standard anticoagulants in stroke prophylaxis for patients with AF for decades. Despite their effectiveness, they are limited by several factors such as narrow therapeutic index, drug- drug interactions, slow onset and offset of action, hemorrhage and routine anticoagulation monitoring to maintain therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR). During recent times, various novel anticoagulants have been developed to expand the therapeutic option for stroke prevention. Apixaban is a novel oral anticoagulant which has been developed and clinically investigated for prevention of stroke in AF patients. This review discusses the pharmacological properties, results of clinical trials investigating role of apixaban for prevention of stroke and its future potential in clinical practice.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia encountered in the U.S. and the growing burden of AF has profound health implications due to the association of AF with an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and mortality. AF is a significant risk factor for thromboembolic stroke; and also independently increases total mortality in patients with and without cardiovascular disease. Various risk stratification schemes such as CHADS 2 and CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc have been implemented in clinical practice to determine the risk of cardio-embolic stroke, and need for thrombo-prophylaxis in patients with AF. AF is also closely related to the pathophysiology of other cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease. Many patients with AF have associated atherosclerosis given that many risk factors for atherosclerosis also predispose to AF. Myocardial infarction (MI) is also closely related to AF and its clinical course is affected by new onset AF. This review elucidates the impact of AF on major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality outcomes in relation to stroke, coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease.