Predictors for the Use of New Direct Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation and Their One-Year Adherence

pp. 352-356

Abstract

Background: Men with CHA₂DS₂-Vasc score ≥1 or women with CHA₂DS₂-Vasc score ≥2 and atrial fibrillation/flutter have high indication of antithrombotic treatment.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of anticoagulant therapy in this population, to find predictors for the use of new oral anticoagulants and to analyze the one-year adherence to treatment.

Methods: A total of 484 consecutive patients were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were in-hospital mortality (n=12) and CHA₂DS²-Vasc score of 0 in both genders and 1 in women (n=67). Finally, 405 patients were analyzed with median age of 76 years, 46% women, 76% hypertensive, 25% diabetic, 10% with previous stroke and 30% with history of atrial fibrillation/flutter.

Results: A rhythm control strategy was used in 66% of cases and 293 patients were anticoagulated at discharge (72%). Among anticoagulated patients, 63.5% received new oral anticoagulants, especially those who were younger (74 vs. 79.5 years, p=0.001), with lower history of stroke (5.8% vs.18%, p<0.001), lower median CHA₂DS₂-Vasc (3 vs.4, p<0.01) and HAS-BLED (1 vs. 2, p<0.01) scores and with sinus rhythm at discharge (73.8% vs. 54.7%, p<0.001). Among 165 patients discharged with new oral anticoagulants and followed up for one year, 55.7% adhered to the indicated new oral anticoagulant, 29.69% had discontinued the anticoagulation treatment and 14.5% had switched to acenocoumarol.

Conclusions: The study shows that only 70 of patients are anticoagulated at discharge. New oral anticoagulants were used in more than half of cases, especially in patients at lower clinical risk. At one-year follow-up, 6 out of every 10 patients with indication of new oral anticoagulants at discharge continue this treatment, 1 switches to acenocoumarol and 3 abandon anticoagulant therapy.