Profile and outcome of patients with Warfarin Toxicity admitted in a tertiary care hospital in Bhutan: a cross-sectional study investigators and institutions

Abstract

Abstract Objective To study the profile, clinical presentation and outcome of hospital stay among patients admitted with warfarin toxicity at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Bhutan. This was a cross-sectional study with a review of hospital records of patients admitted between 01 and 2018 and 30 June 2020. Results There were 22 admissions due to warfarin toxicity. The mean age of patients was 55.9 (± SD 20.2) years, the median duration of warfarin therapy was 30 months (IQR 4.8, 69 months). The indications for warfarin were atrial fibrillation (9, 40.9%), mechanical heart valves (6, 27.3%), deep vein thrombosis (6, 27.3%) and pulmonary thromboembolism (1, 4.5%). The mean of dosage of warfarin was 4.3 (± 2.6) mg and the cumulative dosage in the week prior to admission was 30.9 (± 18.6) mg. The mean of INR at presentation was 7.7 (± 4.3) with the maximum noted at 20. The patients presented with gastrointestinal bleeding, muscle haematomas, epistaxis and oral cavity bleeding. There was no mortality related to warfarin toxicity. The reasons for warfarin toxicity included patient dosing error and drug interactions. Warfarin therapy requires appropriate patient education, adequate facilities for follow-up and avoidance of warfarin wherever possible in clinical settings.

Keywords

• Adverse drug event
• Patient safety
• Anticoagulants
• Patient education