Health and Quality of Life Outcomes (Dec 2020)

Health-related quality of life in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients with controlled or uncontrolled anticoagulation status

  • José Felipe Varona,
  • José Miguel Seguí-Ripoll,
  • Cristina Lozano-Duran,
  • Luis Miguel Cuadrado-Gómez,
  • Juan Bautista Montagud-Moncho,
  • Antonio Ramos-Guerrero,
  • José Carlos Mirete-Ferrer,
  • Esther Donado,
  • Javier García-Alegría,
  • the REQUOL Study Group

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-020-01563-1
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract Background There is a dearth of evidence regarding Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients undergoing oral anticoagulation therapy. Our objective was to describe HRQoL in NVAF patients on oral anticoagulation, focusing on uncontrolled patients on vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) versus controlled patients on VKAs or non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), in a real-world setting. Additionally, we assessed the clinical characteristics of patients with uncontrolled anticoagulation. Methods An observational, multicentre, and cross-sectional study, enrolling 38 Spanish Hospitals' Internal Medicine Departments. HRQoL was assessed using the validated Spanish version of the Sawicki questionnaire. High self-perceived HRQoL was indicated by high scores in the general treatment satisfaction and self-efficacy dimensions, and by low scores in the strained social network, daily hassles and distress dimensions. Results Five hundred and one patients were included for assessment. Mean scores ± SD were closer to a high perceived HRQoL in controlled than uncontrolled patients for the five dimensions of the questionnaire: 4.9 ± 1.0 versus 3.6 ± 1.3 for general treatment satisfaction; 4.3 ± 1.0 versus 3.6 ± 1.0 for self-efficacy, 3.1 ± 0.9 versus 3.9 ± 1.1 for strained social network, 2.1 ± 0.8 versus 3.0 ± 1.0 for daily hassles and 1.8 ± 0.9 versus 2.6 ± 1.2 for distress. Conclusions HRQoL in patients with controlled anticoagulant status treated with NOACs or VKAs was better than in patients with uncontrolled anticoagulant status. This seems to indicate that anticoagulation control status influences perception of HRQoL, highlighting the importance of its evaluation when assessing HRQoL in NVAF patients.

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