Anticoagulation Therapy in Patients with non Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Hospitalized in the Department of Medicine in the NOACs Era.

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Anticoagulation Therapy in Patients with non Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Hospitalized in the Department of Medicine in the NOACs Era.

QJM. 2018 Apr 10;:

Authors: Atamna A, Suki M, Kena'any H, Elis A

Abstract
Background: The treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) includes anticoagulation therapy (AC) to prevent systemic emboli. Until recently, warfarin was the main anticoagulation agent, while in recent years the new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are increasingly being used. The aim of our study was to characterize the AC treatment policy of AF patients at the department of medicine in the NOACs era.
Methods: An observational study of consecutive hospitalized patients with non-valvular AF for a period of 3 months in Beilinson hospital (January - March 2017). Demographic characteristics, clinical data and AC therapeutic approach were compared to those from the pre-NOACs era, based on a previous study.
Results: 335 patients were hospitalized with either new (21%) or prior (79%) non-valvular AF. An increase in AC therapy among patients with prior and new AF was observed compared to the pre-NOACs era (76% vs. 59%, p < 0.001, and 68% vs. 49% p < 0. 001, respectively). Totally, 76% of all patients were discharged with AC therapy compared to 55% in the pre-NOACs era. As in the pre-NOACs era, prior AC therapy was the main predictor for the prescription of AC therapy during hospitalization and discharge (OR = 13, CI 95% 7-25, P = 0.0001).
Conclusion: There is a significant increase in the AC therapy prescription, mainly NOACs, in hospitalized non-valvular AF patients. This increase could be explained by the difficulties in warfarin treatment and the benefits of NOACs. Nevertheless, a large observational study is required to prove these findings.

PMID: 29648661 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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