Quality control of oral anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists in primary care patients in Poland: a multi-centre study

Abstract

The TTR in primary care patients on VKA therapy was 55%. Better quality of oral anticoagulation with VKA could be achieved by using warfarin instead of acenocoumarol, proper INR monitoring in the recommended interval of four to eight weeks, and tighter INR control in younger and male patients.

Do patients with a history of systemic embolism have better compliance in International Normalized Ratio control?

“…Similar results were presented by Sawicka-Powierza et al, where the TTR value in 430 patients was 55% [30] . It is noteworthy that in the above-mentioned study male gender was the only obvious and significant independent predictor of INR results above the upper limit of the therapeutic range.…”

Safety of minimally invasive procedures in patients with lung diseases treated with NOAC: a single center case series

“…Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are commonly used in the prevention of stroke associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) as well as in the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The effectiveness of DOAC is similar or even higher than that of vitamin K antagonists (VKA), with adequate safety and convenient administration [1,2]. The use of all anticoagulants is associated with increased risk of bleeding, including that observed after invasive procedures.…”

Response to Letter to the Editor “Adverse outcomes in anticoagulated patients undergoing percutaneous left atrial appendage ligation” by Anetta Undas

“…Unfortunately, detailed data on the quality of anticoagulation were unavailable in the current report, but poor quality of anticoagulant therapy is a well-known problem in AF patients. In Poland, the time within the therapeutic range (TTR) in primary care patients on vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy is around 55% [3], and some of the observed adverse events may, arguably, be caused by poor VKA anticoagulation management. Two hemorrhagic strokes were observed in non-anticoagulated patients and were probably caused by uncontrolled hypertension.…”