Warfarin persistence among atrial fibrillation patients – why is treatment ended?

• Background and AimWarfarin treatment discontinuation is significant among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Studies mainly focused on whether the proportion of warfarin persistence and discontinuationare clinically appropriate are absent. This study evaluates warfarin persistence with focus on predictors for, and reasons to, warfarin discontinuation in AF patients.MethodsFrom the national quality register AuriculA, all AF patients in Sundsvall, Sweden, on warfarin treatment on January first, 2010 were included. These 478 patients were followed until discontinuation or study-stop December 31, 2013. By going through each patient’s medical record risk factors for thromboembolism, bleeding and causes of discontinuation were obtained.ResultsProportion of warfarin persistence was 0.91 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89 to 0.93) after one year and 0.73 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.77) after four years. Previous intracranial bleeding, excessive alcohol use, anemia and pulmonary or peripheral emboli were each associated with over two times higher risk of discontinuation (hazard ratio (HR) 5.66, CI 2.23-14.36, HR 2.54, CI 1.48-4.37, HR 2.40, CI 1.38-4.17, and HR 2.13, CI 1.02-4.46). Among patients discontinuing, 50.5% were due to questionable causes, such as sinus rhythm (33.9%), patients demand (10.1%) and falls (8.2%). The majority (43.1%) of treatment discontinuers were changed to aspirin, while 40.4% of them were left without medical stroke prophylaxis.ConclusionsAlthough persistence to warfarin among AF patients proves higher than previously reported, there is room for improvement since half of the discontinuers have questionable reasons for treatment stop and the majority of them receive no other efficient stroke prophylaxis.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Hematologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Hematology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Atrial fibrillation

Discontinuation

Persistence

Stroke prophylaxis

Treatment

Warfarin

cardiovascular disease

hjärt- och kärlforskning

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)