A measurement of the efficacy of anticoagulation monitoring in a general practice based setting.

With increasing numbers of patients on anticoagulant therapy and a trend towards moving certain hospital services to a primary care setting, we looked at how GPs are managing Warfarin therapy in their patients. This prospective study measured the efficacy of INR monitoring in 325 patients who were being managed in a general practice setting. 41% (415 of 1016) of readings fell strictly within the target ranges recommended by the British Society for Haematology. There was a low rate of haemorrhagic events (3.7%) in patients on Warfarin. Possible methods of improving readings include the introduction of Decision Support Services and formal training.