Silva Pinto S, Henriques TS, Teixeira ASC, Monteiro H, Martins C. Appropriateness of prescribing profiles and intake adherence to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation: analysis of a retrospective longitudinal study using real-world data from Northern Portugal (AF-React Study).
BMJ Open 2024;
14:e076108. [PMID:
38688672 PMCID:
PMC11086444 DOI:
10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076108]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to assess the appropriateness of prescribing profiles and intake adherence to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
DESIGN
Retrospective longitudinal study.
SETTING
The study was conducted in the Regional Health Administration of Northern Portugal.
PARTICIPANTS
The authors selected a database of 21 854 patients with prescriptions for NOACs between January 2016 and December 2018 and were classified with AF until December 2018.
OUTCOME MEASURES
The appropriate dosage of NOAC for patients with AF divided into three categories: contraindicated, inconsistent and consistent, based on the 2020 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for AF.
RESULTS
Dabigatran had a lower percentage of guideline-consistent doses (n=1657, 50.1%) than other drugs such as rivaroxaban (n=4737, 81.6%), apixaban (n=3830, 78.7%) and edoxaban (n=436, 82.1%). Most patients with an inconsistent dose were prescribed a lower dose than recommended based on their glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Among patients younger than 75 years with GFR >60 mL/min, 59.8% (n=10 028) had an adequate GFR range, while 27.8% (n=7166) of GFR measurements from patients older than 75 years old and 29.4% (n=913) of GFR measurements from patients younger than 75 years with GFR <60 mL/min were within an adequate time range. Adherence to NOACs varied across different drugs, with 59.1% (n=540) adhering to edoxaban, 56.3% (n=5443) to rivaroxaban, 55.3% (n=3143) to dabigatran and 53.3% (n=4211) to apixaban.
CONCLUSIONS
Dabigatran had the lowest percentage of guideline-consistent doses. Patients younger than 75 years with GFR >60 mL/min had the highest percentage with an adequate GFR range, while other groups who require closer GFR monitoring had lower percentages within an adequate GFR range. Adherence to NOACs differed among different drugs, with greater adherence to treatment with edoxaban and less adherence to apixaban.
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