BACKGROUND: Inappropriate doses of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are often prescribed. This study evaluated the prevalence, outcomes, and predictors of the prescription of inappropriately low doses of 4 types of DOACs in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected data from a single-center registry with 2272 patients prescribed DOACs for AF (apixaban: 1014; edoxaban: 267; rivaroxaban: 498; dabigatran: 493). Patients were monitored for 2years and classified into appropriate-dose (n = 1,753; including appropriate low doses), inappropriate-low-dose (n = 490) and inappropriate-high-dose groups (n = 29). Major bleeding (MB) and thromboembolic events (TEEs) were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age was 72 ± 10years. The CHADS2 and HAS-BLED scores were 1.95 ± 1.32 and 1.89 ± .96, respectively. Overall, the incidences of MB and TEE were 2.3 and 2.1 per 100-patinet year, respectively. The inappropriate-low-dose group had younger age, heavier body weight, and higher creatinine clearance value than the appropriate-dose group. Multiple logistic regression analyses demonstrated the following independent determinants of the prescription of an inappropriately low dose: apixaban: HAS-BLED score; edoxaban: age; rivaroxaban: age, creatinine clearance value, HAS-BLED score, CHADS2 score, and antiplatelet therapy; dabigatran: age. There were not significant differences in the incidence of major bleeding and stroke/systemic emboli among the inappropriate-low-dose group of 4 DOACs compared with the appropriate-dose group of 4 DOACs. CONCLUSIONS: In a single-center registry, 23% of patients with AF treated with a DOAC received an inappropriate dose. Several clinical factors, such as age and the creatinine clearance value, can identify patients at risk of under-treatment with DOACs.
BACKGROUND: Inappropriate doses of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are often prescribed. This study evaluated the prevalence, outcomes, and predictors of the prescription of inappropriately low doses of 4 types of DOACs in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected data from a single-center registry with 2272 patients prescribed DOACs for AF (apixaban: 1014; edoxaban: 267; rivaroxaban: 498; dabigatran: 493). Patients were monitored for 2years and classified into appropriate-dose (n = 1,753; including appropriate low doses), inappropriate-low-dose (n = 490) and inappropriate-high-dose groups (n = 29). Major bleeding (MB) and thromboembolic events (TEEs) were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age was 72 ± 10years. The CHADS2 and HAS-BLED scores were 1.95 ± 1.32 and 1.89 ± .96, respectively. Overall, the incidences of MB and TEE were 2.3 and 2.1 per 100-patinet year, respectively. The inappropriate-low-dose group had younger age, heavier body weight, and higher creatinine clearance value than the appropriate-dose group. Multiple logistic regression analyses demonstrated the following independent determinants of the prescription of an inappropriately low dose: apixaban: HAS-BLED score; edoxaban: age; rivaroxaban: age, creatinine clearance value, HAS-BLED score, CHADS2 score, and antiplatelet therapy; dabigatran: age. There were not significant differences in the incidence of major bleeding and stroke/systemic emboli among the inappropriate-low-dose group of 4 DOACs compared with the appropriate-dose group of 4 DOACs. CONCLUSIONS: In a single-center registry, 23% of patients with AF treated with a DOAC received an inappropriate dose. Several clinical factors, such as age and the creatinine clearance value, can identify patients at risk of under-treatment with DOACs.
Authors: Beata Uziębło-Życzkowska; Paweł Krzesiński; Małgorzata Maciorowska; Iwona Gorczyca; Olga Jelonek; Maciej Wójcik; Robert Błaszczyk; Agnieszka Kapłon-Cieślicka; Monika Gawałko; Tomasz Tokarek; Renata Rajtar-Salwa; Jacek Bil; Michał Wojewódzki; Anna Szpotowicz; Małgorzata Krzciuk; Janusz Bednarski; Elwira Bakuła-Ostalska; Anna Tomaszuk-Kazberuk; Anna Szyszkowska; Marcin Wełnicki; Artur Mamcarz; Beata Wożakowska-Kapłon Journal: Cardiovasc Diagn Ther Date: 2021-02
Authors: Melina Gattellari; Andrew Hayen; Dominic Y C Leung; Nicholas A Zwar; John M Worthington Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2020-06-08 Impact factor: 2.497