145 Major Bleeding Events in Patients on Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants Presenting to the Emergency Department

Abstract Background Balance between embolic and bleeding risk is challenging in patients with cancer. There is a lack of specific recommendations for the use of antithrombotic therapy in oncologic patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) within patients with breast cancer. We also compared the embolic and bleeding risk, the preventive management and the incidence of events between patients with and without cancer. Methods It is an ambispective observational multicentric study that analysed patients with non-valvular AF treated in Oncology and Cardiology Departments in Spain in the period 2011–2018. A total of 1237 female patients with AF were enrolled: 637 with breast cancer and 599 without cancer. The incidence of thromboembolic and major bleeding events according to the antithrombotic strategy with VKAs or DOACs was evaluated in the cohort of 637 patients with cancer. Analysis were conducted using SPSS software V.22.0 and R V.3.5.1, with a two-tailed significance value of 0.05. Results Mean follow-up was 3.1 years. Both groups were similar in age, CHA2DS2-VASc and HASB-LED scores. There was no evidence that the incidence of ischemic stroke/systemic embolism differed between patients with cancer treated with AVK and DOAC after CHA2DS2-VASc adjustment: HR 0.91 (95% CI, 0.42–1.99). In addition, no significant differences in the incidence of major bleeding events were found between DOACs and VKA after adjustment for HAS-BLED score: HR 1.53 (95% CI, 0.93–2.53) (Figure 3). Gastrointestinal bleeding was the main source of haemorrhages in both groups (45% of bleedings among patients treated with DOACs and, 37% in VKAs group). Metastatic disease or active chemotherapy were studied as potential covariates but none of them posed any relevant change in the result. Kaplan-Meier analysis Conclusions Cancer patients treated with DOACs did not differ versus those treated with VKAs with regards to stroke or systemic embolism in a model adjusted for CHA2DS2-VASc. Neither significant differences were found for bleeding events in a model adjusted for baseline HASBLED.

Download Full-text

Direct oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K antagonists in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis

RMD Open ◽

10.1136/rmdopen-2021-001678 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. e001678

Author(s):

Nazariy Koval ◽

Mariana Alves ◽

Rui Plácido ◽

Ana G Almeida ◽

João Eurico Fonseca ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Antiphospholipid Syndrome ◽

Vitamin K ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

Vitamin K Antagonists ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Thromboembolic Events ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

Prevention Of Thromboembolic Events

BackgroundDespite vitamin K antagonists (VKA) being the gold standard in the prevention of thromboembolic events in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), non-vitamin K antagonists oral anticoagulants/direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been used off-label.ObjectiveWe aimed to perform a systematic review comparing DOACs to VKA regarding prevention of thromboembolic events, occurrence of bleeding events and mortality in patients with APS.MethodsAn electronic database search was performed through MEDLINE, CENTRAL and Web of Science. After data extraction, we pooled the results using risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I². The outcomes considered were all thromboembolic events as primary, and major bleeding, all bleeding events and mortality as secondary. Evidence confidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology.ResultsWe included 7 studies and a total of 835 patients for analyses. Thromboembolic events were significantly increased in DOACs arm, compared with VKA—RR 1.69, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.62, I²—24%, n=719, 6 studies. In studies using exclusively rivaroxaban, which was the most representative drug in all included studies, the thromboembolic risk was increased threefold (RR 3.36, 95% CI 1.53 to 7.37). The risks of major bleeding, all bleeding events and mortality were not significantly different from control arm. The grade of certainty of our results is very low.ConclusionsCurrent evidence suggests DOACs use, particularly rivaroxaban, among patients with APS, is less effective than VKA since it is associated with 69% increased risk of thromboembolic events.Trial registration numberCRD42020216178.

Download Full-text

Anticoagulation Challenges in Hematogeriatrics: Effectiveness and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants Vs Vitamin k Antagonist in Elderly with Atrial Fibrillation

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-125150 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 1162-1162

Author(s):

Desirée Campoy ◽

Gonzalo Artaza ◽

César A Velasquez ◽

Tania Canals ◽

Erik A Johansson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Vitamin K ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

Frail Elderly ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Vitamin K Antagonist ◽

Systemic Embolism ◽

Bleeding Events

BACKGROUND Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are increasingly used in patients with Non Valvular Atrial Fibrillation (NVAF) for stroke prevention. However, Follow-Up (FU) and dosing these agents in the elderly can be challenging due to different factors, such as chronic kidney disease, frailty, falls, multifactorial anemia and concomitant polypharmacy. These factors in elderly patients predisposes to both thromboembolic and bleeding events once atrial fibrillation occurs. Therefore, balancing risks and benefits of antithrombotic strategies in older populations is crucial. Despite recent increases in DOAC use in NVAF, there are still limited data regarding DOACs effectiveness and safety in frail elderly patients. AIM To assess the effectiveness and safety according to DOAC or Vitamin K Antagonist (VKA) in a cohort of elderly patients with NVAF. METHODS From April 2016 to April 2019, we consecutively included NVAF elderly patients (≥80 years-old) treated with DOAC or VKA in a prospective multicenter registry. Demographic, laboratory, frailty risk stratification and antithrombotic therapy data were collected. Patients had a minimum FU of 6 months. VKA patients had a standard FU through digital international normalized ratio (INR) control and the efficacy of therapy was determined by the time in therapeutic range (TTR) values from the preceding 6 months of treatment using Rosendaal's method. FU in DOAC patients was performed through structured and integral assessment following the Tromboc@t Working Group recommendations for management in patients receiving DOAC (Olivera et al, Med Clin 2018). Key practical management aspects are listed in the flow chart (Figure 1). Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS score) was assigned to each patient at the beginning and during the FU; patients were classified into three categories: non-frail (CFS 1-4), mild-to-moderately frail (CFS 5-6), and severely frail (CFS 7-9). RESULTS From a total of 1040 NVAF patients, 690 (63.5%) were treated with DOAC (61 dabigatran, 95 rivaroxaban, 254 edoxaban and 280 apixaban) and 350 with VKA. In the VKA group, the mean TTR was 52.8%. Demographic characteristics and CFS score are summarized in table 1. Kaplan-Meier analysis (median FU: 16.5 months) showed a significantly high incidence of stroke/systemic embolism among VKA patients vs DOAC patients (4.2 vs 0.5 events per 100 patient-years, p<0.001). Major bleeding in the DOAC group was significantly infrequent compared with VKA group (2.2 vs 8.9 events, p=0.001). In the DOAC group, 90% (n=20/22) of the major bleedings were gastrointestinal [16 rivaroxaban and 4 edoxaban]. However, in the VKA group 64% (n = 20/31) were gastrointestinal, 25.8% (n= 8/31) intracranial and 9.7% (n = 3/31) urogenital bleedings. We identified 365 very elderly patients (aged ≥ 90 years) of which 270 (39.1%) were DOAC patients and 95 (27.1%) VKA patients. In this subgroup of patients, after a multivariate regression analysis, the stroke/systemic embolism incidence was similar in both treatment groups regardless of the age, but major bleeding decreased significantly in DOAC group (adjusted HR 0.247, 95% CI 0.091-0.664). CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that DOACs can be a good therapeutic option for stroke/systemic embolism prevention in frail elderly patients, showing low rates of stroke as well as bleeding events when a structured and integral FU is applied to anticoagulated patients. Further investigations are necessary to analyze the impact in the quality of life and net clinical benefit of anticoagulant therapy when a FU program is applied in elderly patients. Disclosures Sierra: Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Daiichi-Sankyo: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria.

Download Full-text

Safety and timing of resuming dabigatran after major gastrointestinal bleeding reversed by idarucizumab

SAGE Open Medical Case Reports ◽

10.1177/2050313x17753336 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 2050313X1775333 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gian Galeazzo Riario Sforza ◽

Francesco Gentile ◽

Fabio Stock ◽

Francesco Caggiano ◽

Enrica Chiocca ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Case Report ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

Acute Treatment ◽

Vitamin K Antagonists ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Oral Vitamin ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

Massive Rectal Bleeding

The recent introduction of direct oral anticoagulants, including rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban, and edoxaban, for the acute treatment and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism and in atrial fibrillation has been shown to provide greater clinical benefit than oral vitamin K antagonists. However, direct oral anticoagulants are associated with adverse events, the most common being major bleeding; such events require the reversal of the anticoagulant effects by specific agents. In this case report, we describe an 87-year-old female with atrial fibrillation treated with dabigatran who had massive rectal bleeding. Idarucizumab 5 g (2 × 2.5 g/50 mL) was successfully used to reverse dabigatran effect; subsequent to this, treatment with dabigatran was resumed, and there were no further bleeding events. This suggests that dabigatran can be safely restarted after major bleeding, but this outcome needs to be confirmed in studies involving larger groups of patients.

Download Full-text

Abstract 17152: Frequency and Management of Major Bleeding in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Treated With Warfarin and Non-vitamin K Oral Anticoagulants in Community Practice: Results From the ORBIT-AF II Registry

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.132.suppl_3.17152 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽

Author(s):

Benjamin A Steinberg ◽

DaJuanicia N Simon ◽

Laine Thomas ◽

Jack Ansell ◽

Gregg C Fonarow ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Vitamin K ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Recurrent Bleeding ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

Reversal Agents ◽

Major Bleeding Events

Background: Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are effective at preventing stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, little is known about the frequency of major bleeds on NOACs and how these events are managed in clinical practice. Methods: We assessed the rates, management, and outcomes of ISTH major bleeding events among AF patients in the ORBIT-AF II registry (mean follow-up 213 days). Results: Overall, 103 patients experienced 110 major bleeding events during follow-up n=90/4986 (1.8%) on NOAC, and n=20/1320 (1.5%) on warfarin. Patients with bleeding events on NOAC were slightly younger than those on warfarin (median age 76 vs. 80; p=0.2). Among mutually-exclusive bleeding types, intracranial bleeding was more common in warfarin treated patients than NOAC-treated (15% vs 6.7%), whereas GI bleeding was more common on NOACs (56% vs. 40%, overall p=0.1 for bleeding type). Management of bleeding differed by anticoagulation type: blood products and reversal agents were more commonly used in patients on warfarin (Table). No patient received prothrombin complexes, recombinant factor VIIa, aminocaproic acid, tranexamic acid, aprotinin, or desmopressin. Out of 90 major bleeding events in NOAC patients, only 1 was fatal (1%). Within 30 days following bleeding, there were no strokes and 1 TIA (NOAC). Following a major bleed, the recurrent bleeding rate in NOAC patients in the next 30-days was 4% and the death rate was 4%. Conclusions: Rates of major bleeding with NOACs in clinical practice are comparable to those reported in clinical trials. Compared with warfarin, bleeding among NOAC users was less likely intracranial and more likely to be GI. Management of bleeding in the setting of NOAC rarely includes reversal agents.

Download Full-text

Direct oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K antagonists in patients with atrial fibrillation and cancer a meta-analysis

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis ◽

10.1007/s11239-020-02304-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Marco Valerio Mariani ◽

Michele Magnocavallo ◽

Martina Straito ◽

Agostino Piro ◽

Paolo Severino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Vitamin K ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Vitamin K Antagonists ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Bleeding Complications ◽

Efficacy And Safety

Abstract Background Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are recommended as first-line anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, in patients with cancer and AF the efficacy and safety of DOACs are not well established. Objective We performed a meta-analysis comparing available data regarding the efficacy and safety of DOACs vs vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in cancer patients with non-valvular AF. Methods An online search of Pubmed and EMBASE libraries (from inception to May, 1 2020) was performed, in addition to manual screening. Nine studies were considered eligible for the meta-analysis involving 46,424 DOACs users and 182,797 VKA users. Results The use of DOACs was associated with reduced risks of systemic embolism or any stroke (RR 0.65; 95% CI 0.52–0.81; p 0.001), ischemic stroke (RR 0.84; 95% CI 0.74–0.95; p 0.007) and hemorrhagic stroke (RR 0.61; 95% CI 0.52–0.71; p 0.00001) as compared to VKA group. DOAC use was associated with significantly reduced risks of major bleeding (RR 0.68; 95% CI 0.50–0.92; p 0.01) and intracranial or gastrointestinal bleeding (RR 0.64; 95% CI 0.47–0.88; p 0.006). Compared to VKA, DOACs provided a non-statistically significant risk reduction of the outcomes major bleeding or non-major clinically relevant bleeding (RR 0.94; 95% CI 0.78–1.13; p 0.50) and any bleeding (RR 0.91; 95% CI 0.78–1.06; p 0.24). Conclusions In comparison to VKA, DOACs were associated with a significant reduction of the rates of thromboembolic events and major bleeding complications in patients with AF and cancer. Further studies are needed to confirm our results.

Download Full-text

The Effectiveness and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) Vs. Traditional Anticoagulants in Patients with Cirrhosis

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v128.22.5015.5015 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 128 (22) ◽

pp. 5015-5015

Author(s):

Justin Hum ◽

Janice Jou ◽

Thomas G. Deloughery ◽

Joseph Shatzel

Keyword(s):

Major Bleeding ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Vitamin K Antagonists ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Bleeding Complications ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Recurrent Thrombosis ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

Cirrhotic Patients

Abstract Introduction: The coagulopathy associated with cirrhosis is complex and places patients at risk for both bleeding and thrombosis. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been shown to have superior efficacy and safety compared to vitamin K antagonists; however their efficacy and safety in cirrhotic patients is not clear. The aim of this study is to retrospectively compare the effectiveness and bleeding complications of DOACs as compared to traditional anticoagulants in cirrhotic patients. Methods: This study was a retrospective review of patients treated at a single academic center between 2012-2015 who were prescribed a DOAC (apixaban or rivaroxaban), or a traditional anticoagulant (warfarin or low molecular weight heparin), with an ICD-9 code for the diagnosis of cirrhosis. The primary outcomes of interest are recurrent thrombosis or stroke (efficacy failure), or bleeding events (safety failure). Major bleeds were characterized as fatal bleeding, symptomatic bleeding in critical organ area, or bleeding causing a fall in hemoglobin level >2 or leading to transfusion of 2+ units of packed red blood cells. Results: During the study period, 27 cirrhotic patients were prescribed a DOAC and 18 were prescribed a traditional anticoagulant (either LMWH or warfarin). Both groups had similar total bleeding events (8 DOAC vs. 10 traditional anticoagulation, p = 0.12). There were significantly less major bleeding episodes in the DOAC group, (1 (4%) vs. 5 (28%), p = 0.03) and less intracranial bleeding (3 (17% ) vs. 0 (0%) p=0.06). Recurrent thrombosis or stroke occurred in 1 (4%) patient in the DOAC group and 1 (6%) patient in the traditional group (p = 1.0). Conclusions: Anticoagulation with DOACs in cirrhotic patients may be as safe as traditional anticoagulants with respect to bleeding events. Patients with cirrhosis at our center prescribed DOACs had less major bleeding events, while maintaining efficacy at preventing stroke or recurrent thrombosis. Table Table. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Download Full-text

P2529Efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulation in nonagenarian patients with atrial fibrillation

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehz748.0858 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

L Dominguez Rodriguez ◽

S Raposeiras Roubin ◽

D Alonso Rodriguez ◽

S J Camacho Freire ◽

E Abuassi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

Oral Anticoagulation ◽

Lower Risk ◽

Vitamin K Antagonists ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

The Impact ◽

Similar Risk

Abstract Introduction Embolic prevention with oral anticoagulation is the cornerstone for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, data about the efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulation in nonagenarian patients are limited. We aimed to analyze the impact of oral anticoagulation in mortality, embolic and hemorrhagic events, in patients ≥90 years with non-valvular AF. Methods We used data from a multicentric registry of 1,750 consecutive nonagenarian patients diagnosed of AF between 2013 and 2018. A propensity-matched analysis was performed to match the baseline characteristics of patients treated or not with oral anticoagulants, and for those treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) vs direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). The impact of oral anticoagulation in the embolic and hemorrhagic risk was assessed by a competitive risk analysis, using a Fine and Gray regression model, with death being the competitive event. For embolic risk, we have considered a stroke, pulmonary or peripheral embolism. For bleeding risk, we have considered any bleeding requiring hospital admission. Results The mean of CHA2DS2-VASC and HASBLED scores was 4.5±1.3 and 2.8±1.0 points, respectively. Most of patients were anticoagulated (70.1%; n=1,256). DOACs were used in 709 patients, and VKAs in 517 patients. During a median follow-up of 25.2 months (IQR 12.2–44.3 months), 988 patients died (56.5%), 180 presented embolic events (10.3%), 186 had bleeding events (10.6%), and 29 had intracranial hemorrhage (ICH, 1.7%). After propensity-score matching, anticoagulation (versus non anticoagulation) was associated with lower mortality rate (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.60–0.89; p=0.002), less mortality and embolic events (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.64–0.92; p=0.005), but more bleeding events (HR 2.05, 95% CI 1.25–3.35; p=0.004). In comparison with VKAs, DOACs showed similar risk of mortality and embolic events (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.88–1.47; p=0.337), and similar risk of bleeding events (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.43–1.28; p=0.287), although a trend to lower risk of ICH was found (HR 0.17, 95% CI 0.02–1.39; p=0.097). Conclusions Among nonagenarian patients with AF, oral anticoagulation was associated with lower all-cause mortality. Although survival free of embolic events was significantly higher in patients with anticoagulation, the risk of major bleeding was twice than in non-anticoagulated patients. There was not differences between VKAs and DOACs in terms of embolic events and total major bleeding. However, compared with VKAs, DOACs were showed a trend to lower risk of ICH.

Download Full-text

Bleeding and thrombotic complications during treatment with direct oral anticoagulants or vitamin K antagonists in venous thromboembolic patients included in the prospective, observational START2-register

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040449 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. e040449

Author(s):

Gualtiero Palareti ◽

Emilia Antonucci ◽

Cristina Legnani ◽

Daniela Mastroiacovo ◽

Daniela Poli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin K ◽

Vitamin K Antagonists ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Efficacy Rate ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

Venous Thromboembolic ◽

Thrombotic Complications ◽

The Difference

ObjectiveThe proportion and characteristics of Italian patients affected by venous thromboembolism (VTE) treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) or vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), and complications occurring during follow-up.DesignA prospective cohort of 2728 VTE patients included in the Survey on anticoagulaTed pAtients RegisTer (START2-Register) from January 2014 to June 2018 was investigated. Characteristics of patients, type of treatment and complications occurring during 2962 years of follow-up were analysed.SettingAbout 60 Italian anticoagulation and thrombosis centres participated in the observational START2-RegisterParticipants2728 adult patients with VTE of a lower limb and/or pulmonary embolism (PE), with a follow-up after the initial phase treatment.InterventionsPatients could receive DOACs or VKAs; both prescribed by the National and Regional Health Systems for patients with VTE.Outcomes measuresEfficacy: rate of VTE recurrence (all thrombotic complications were also recorded). Safety: the rate of major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding events.ResultsAlmost 80% of patients were treated with DOACs. The prevalence of symptomatic PE and impaired renal function was higher in patients receiving VKAs. Duration of anticoagulation was >180 days in approximately 70% of patients. Bleeding events were similar in both treatment groups. The overall eventuality of recurrence was significantly higher in DOAC cohorts versus VKA cohorts (HR 2.15 (1.14–4.06), p=0.018); the difference was almost completely due to recurrences occurring during extended treatment (2.73% DOAC vs 0.49% VKA, p<0.0001). All-cause mortality was higher in VKA-treated (5.9%) than in DOAC-treated patients (2.6%, p<0.001).ConclusionItalian centres treat most patients with VTE with DOACs and prefer VKA for those with more serious clinical conditions. Recurrences were significantly more frequent in DOAC-treated patients due to increased incidence after 180 days of treatment, probably due to reduced adherence to treatment. These results underline the importance of structured surveillance of DOAC-treated patients with VTE to strengthen treatment adherence during extended therapy.

Download Full-text

Major Bleeding Events and Associated Factors in a Cohort of Adult Patients Taking Warfarin in an Armed Forces Hospital

Open Access Journal of Dental Sciences ◽

10.23880/oajds-16000279 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Manvikram Singh Gill

Keyword(s):

Sample Size ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Bleeding Event ◽

Armed Forces ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

Medication Therapy ◽

Major Bleeding Events

Introduction: Warfarin is widely utilized in patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF) in Malaysia. However, risk of haemorrhage which necessitates monitoring of International Normalised Ratio (INR) and extensive interaction which varies across ethnicity supports the use of Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACS). This study is to assess whether demographic data, medical history, and medication history are associated with the risk of major bleeding events. Methodology: Data was collected retrospectively in a case-controlled environment from the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) database. These patients were attending Medical Out-patient Department (MOPD) clinic, Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital (TMAFH) from 2nd to 31st January 2018. Results: Among 60 AF patients reviewed, 83% had labile INR range and 35% reported to have 1 or more bleeding event. It is found there is significant association (p<0.05) for variables of sex, history of stroke, and NSAID usage with the outcome. Discussion: Majority of patients with major bleeding events are Chinese males. The sample size of the current study is too small to be able to arrive at any conclusive results. Conclusion: Further studies with bigger sample size are needed among Malaysian Chinese male population. MOPD should establish a warfarin Medication Therapy Adherence Clinic (MTAC) to optimise pharmaceutical care.

Download Full-text