Quality of life, adherence and satisfaction of patients with auricular fibrillation treated with dabigatran or vitamin K antagonists

Patients' perceptions with dabigatran in patients with atrial fibrillation previously treated with vitamin K antagonists

Aim: To analyze the perception of anticoagulation with dabigatran in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation previously treated with vitamin K antagonists over a 6-month period. Materials & methods: This is a prospective, noninterventional, noncontrolled, multicenter study. To assess patients' perceptions, PACT-Q2 questionnaire was completed. Results: Six hundred and fifty nine patients (73.1 ± 9.4 years, CHA₂DS₂-VASc 3.6 ± 1.6) were included. At baseline, the convenience and satisfaction scores were 60.9 ± 24.9 and 49.9 ± 17.7, respectively. The scores significantly increased along the study. Convenience score was higher in males and in patients with low-moderate thromboembolic risk. Satisfaction score was higher in females. Only 8.0% of patients discontinued dabigatran (3.7% due to side effects). Conclusion: Convenience and satisfaction scores for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients treated with dabigatran at 6 months were significantly better than with previous vitamin K antagonists.