The use of oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation: cohort study data

Abstract

Aim. To study the rate of prescription of oral anticoagulants (OAC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) depending AF type and the reasons for their not-prescribing according to cohort study data.Material and methods. Patients (n=58) with AF were included into the study. The rate of OAC, including new OAC (NOAC), prescription depending type AF and the reasons for their not-prescribing were studied.Results. The rate of OAC use was 46.5% (warfarin – 22.4%, NOAC – 20.7%), antiplatelet agents use – 60.3%. The reasons for the lack of OAC use were: contraindications (high risk of hemorrhage or bleeding history) – 5.2%; patient’s inability to comply with the recommendations and the valvular AF, which does not allow to recommend NOAC – 25.8%; preference for a doctor based on the patient's refusal or preference – 22.4%. OAC use in patients with persistent AF was recorded significantly more frequently than in paroxysmal AF (85.71% vs 24.32%; χ2=17.9; p<0.0001).Conclusions. A large part of patients with AF remains without OAC prescribing. More active use of NOAC will allow to correct current situation

Keywords

• atrial fibrillation
• anticoagulant therapy
• reasons for drugs non-prescribing
• new oral anticoagulants