Outpatient Management of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy in Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

Authors

  • Aida Kulo Institute of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo
  • Nedžad Mulabegović Institute of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo
  • Jasna Kusturica Institute of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo
  • Hasija Hadžić Bosnia and Herzegovina Blood Transfusion Institute Sarajevo
  • Lejla Burnazović-Ristić Institute of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo
  • Maida Rakanović-Todić Institute of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo
  • Amila Mehmedović Clinic for Gastroenterology, Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo
  • Orhan Lepara Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17305/bjbms.2009.2787

Keywords:

nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, warfarin, acenocoumarol, INR, dosing

Abstract

Due to heightened risk for thromboembolic complications, nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) presents an absolute indication for long-term oral anticoagulation therapy. This was an observational, analytical, randomised, one-year clinical study, conducted in the Blood Transfusion Institute Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina. The aim of this study was to present the oral anticoagulation treatment in terms of International normalised ratio (INR) monitoring and warfarin/acenocoumarol dose titration in 117 patients with NVAF. INR values, the doses of warfarin and acenocoumarol, as well as the tendency and adequacy of their changes were monitored. Percentages of the therapeutic INR values were 51,77% and 53,62%, subtherapeutic 42,84% and 35,86%, and supratherapeutic 5,39% and 10,53% for the warfarin and acenocoumarol treatment, respectively. The average total weekly doses (TWD) which most frequently achieved the therapeutic INR values were 27,89±12,34 mg and 20,44±9,94 mg, for warfarin and aceno- coumarol, respectively. The dose changes with the INR values 1,7 or lower/3,3 or higher were omitted in 13,46% and 15,63%, and with the INR values 1,8-3,2 were noted in 8,62% and 13,48% of all the check-up visits in the warfarin and acenocoumarol group, respectively. The annual dose changes were noted in 24,65% and 31,41%, and the daily dose changes in 74,43% and 73,36% of all the check-up visits of warfarin and acenocoumarol group, respectively. We can conclude that the management of the oral anticoagulation treatment in our country is in accordance with the relevant recommendations, but with the present tendency toward underdosing and unnecessary frequent dose changing.

Outpatient Management of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy in Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

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Published

20-11-2009

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Section

Pharmacology

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How to Cite

1.
Outpatient Management of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy in Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation. Biomol Biomed [Internet]. 2009 Nov. 20 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];9(4):313-9. Available from: https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/2787