🧠💉 When should you start anticoagulation after an ischaemic stroke in atrial fibrillation? The CATALYST meta-analysis may have the answer!

📊 5,441 patients from 4 RCTs

⏱️ Early DOAC (≤4 days) reduced recurrent stroke risk at 30 days

⚖️ No increased bleeding, even in moderate stroke severity

🚫 But patients with PH2 or very severe strokes were excluded

Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis allowed detailed subgroup analysis and minimized bias

💡 Clinical Takeaway: In most mild-to-moderate strokes, don't delay—start DOACs early!

📄 #Stroke #AtrialFibrillation #CATALYST #DOAC #Neurology #Cardiology #MetaAnalysis #IPDMA #ClinicalTrials #PrecisionMedicine #StrokePrevention