Outcomes of an online pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinic for individuals on warfarin therapy living in rural communities

Web-Based Warfarin Management (Alfalfa App) Versus Traditional Warfarin Management: Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Poor anticoagulation management of warfarin may lead to patient admission, prolonged hospital stays, and even death due to anticoagulation-related adverse events. Traditional non-web-based outpatient clinics struggle to provide ideal anticoagulation management services for patients, and there is a need to explore a safer, more effective, and more convenient mode of warfarin management.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare differences in the quality of anticoagulation management and clinical adverse events between a web-based management model (via a smartphone app) and the conventional non-web-based outpatient management model.

METHODS

This study is a prospective cohort research that includes multiple national centers. Patients meeting the nadir criteria were split into a web-based management group using the Alfalfa app or a non-web-based management group with traditional outpatient management, and they were then monitored for a 6-month follow-up period to collect coagulation test results and clinical events. The effectiveness and safety of the 2 management models were assessed by the following indicators: time in therapeutic range (TTR), bleeding events, thromboembolic events, all-cause mortality events, cumulative event rates, and the distribution of the international normalized ratio (INR).

RESULTS

This national multicenter cohort study enrolled 522 patients between June 2019 and May 2021, with 519 (99%) patients reaching the follow-up end point, including 260 (50%) in the non-web-based management group and 259 (50%) in the web-based management group. There were no observable differences in baseline characteristics between the 2 patient groups. The web-based management group had a significantly higher TTR than the non-web-based management group (82.4% vs 71.6%, P<.001), and a higher proportion of patients received effective anticoagulation management (81.2% vs 63.5%, P<.001). The incidence of minor bleeding events in the non-web-based management group was significantly higher than that in the web-based management group (12.1% vs 6.6%, P=.048). Between the 2 groups, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of severe bleeding and thromboembolic and all-cause death events. In addition, compared with the non-web-based management group, the web-based management group had a lower proportion of INR in the extreme subtreatment range (17.6% vs 21.3%) and severe supertreatment range (0% vs 0.8%) and a higher proportion in the treatment range (50.4% vs 43.1%), with statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with traditional non-web-based outpatient management, web-based management via the Alfalfa app may be more beneficial because it can enhance patient anticoagulation management quality, lower the frequency of small bleeding events, and improve INR distribution.

Combining portable coagulometers with the Internet: A new model of warfarin anticoagulation in patients following mechanical heart valve replacement

Heart valve replacement, as a safe and effective treatment for severe valvular heart disease, can significantly improve hemodynamics in patients. However, such patients then require lifelong anticoagulant therapy. Warfarin, a cheap and highly effective vitamin K antagonist, remains the major anticoagulant recommended for lifelong use following mechanical heart valve replacement. However, the effect of warfarin anticoagulant therapy is complicated by physiological differences among patients and non-compliance with treatment at different degrees. Effective management of warfarin therapy after heart valve replacement is currently an important issue. Portable coagulometers and the emergence of the Internet have provided new opportunities for long-term management of anticoagulation therapy, but the safety and affordability of this approach remain to be fully evaluated. This paper reviews recent progress on the use of portable coagulometers and the Internet in the management of warfarin anticoagulation therapy following mechanical heart valve replacement, which offers opportunities for reducing complications during postoperative anticoagulation and for facilitating patient compliance during follow-up.

Effectiveness of the Alfalfa App in Warfarin Therapy Management for Patients Undergoing Venous Thrombosis Prevention and Treatment: Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Over the years, the internet has enabled considerable progress in the management of chronic diseases, especially hypertension and diabetes. It also provides novel opportunities in online anticoagulation management. Nevertheless, there is insufficient evidence regarding the effectiveness of online anticoagulation management.

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the effectiveness and safety of warfarin management via the Alfalfa app, so as to provide evidence in support of anticoagulant management through online services.

METHODS

In this retrospective, observational cohort study, 824 patients were included. In the offline group, patients went to the hospital clinic for warfarin management. In the Alfalfa app group, patients reported the dose of warfarin, current international normalized ratio (INR) value, and other related information through the Alfalfa app. Physicians or pharmacists used the app to adjust the dose of warfarin and determined the time for the next blood INR testing. Patients completed INR testing by point-of-care at home or hospital. The primary outcome of the study was the percentage of time in therapeutic range (TTR). Secondary outcomes included minor and major bleeding events, thrombotic events, warfarin-related emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and high INR values.

RESULTS

The TTR and percentage of INR values in the range were significantly higher in the Alfalfa app group than in the offline group (79.35% vs 52.38%, P<.001; 3314/4282, 77.39% vs 2005/4202, 47.72%, P<.001, respectively). Patients managed via the Alfalfa app had lower rates of subtherapeutic (172/4282, 4.02% vs 388/4202, 9.23%; P<.001), supratherapeutic (487/4282, 11.37% vs 882/4202, 20.99%; P<.001), and extreme subtherapeutic INR values (290/4282, 6.77% vs 910/4202, 21.66%; P<.001). Additionally, the Alfalfa app group had lower incidences of major bleeding (2/425, 0.5% vs 12/399, 3.0%; P=.005), warfarin-related emergency department visits (13/425, 3.1% vs 37/399, 9.3%; P<.001), and hospital admissions (1/425, 0.2% vs 12/399, 3.0%; P=.001) compared with the offline group. However, the Alfalfa app group had a higher incidence of minor bleeding than the offline group (45/425, 10.6% vs 20/399, 5.0%; P=.003). There were similar incidences in extreme supratherapeutic INR values (19/4282, 0.44% vs 17/4202, 0.40%; P=.78) and thromboembolic events (1/425, 0.2% vs 1/399, 0.3%; P=.53) between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Warfarin management is superior via the Alfalfa app than via offline services in terms of major bleeding events, warfarin-related emergency department visits, and hospital admissions.

Effect of rifampicin on anticoagulation of warfarin: A case report

BACKGROUND

The drug interaction between warfarin and rifampicin is widely known, but there are still some difficulties in managing the combination of the two drugs.

CASE SUMMARY

A patient with brucellosis received strict monitoring from a Chinese pharmacist team during combination of warfarin and rifampicin. The dose of warfarin was increased to 350% in 3 mo before reaching the lower international normalized ratio treatment window. No obvious adverse reaction occurred during the drug-adjustment period. This is the first case report of long-term combined use of rifampicin and warfarin in patients with brucellosis and valve replacement in China based on the Chinese lower warfarin dose and international normalized ratio range.

CONCLUSION

Anticoagulation for valve replacement in Chinese patients differs from that in other races. Establishment of a pharmacist clinic provides vital assistance in warfarin dose adjustment.

The effect of warfarin knowledge on anticoagulation control among patients with heart valve replacement

Background Although novel oral anticoagulants have been applied into clinical practice, warfarin remains the only approved oral anticoagulant for heart valve replacement. Currently, an increasing number of Chinese clinical pharmacists provide patients with warfarin education. However, little research to date has been carried out to evaluate the relationship between warfarin knowledge level and anticoagulation control among patients with heart valve replacement. Objective To evaluate knowledge of warfarin and the relationship between knowledge level and anticoagulation control among patients with heart valve replacement. Setting Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, China. Method A prospective and cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the warfarin education of inpatients new to warfarin therapy using a validated Anticoagulation Knowledge Assessment questionnaire. Included patients were followed up for at least 3 months. Data were retrieved from hospital databases and telephone follow up. Main outcome measure Spearman's rho correlation analysis was used to assess the relationships between time in therapeutic range and warfarin knowledge level. Results 383 patients were included. The mean age of patients was 50.3 ± 7.9 years. The mean knowledge questionnaire score was 62.3 ± 8.8%. The majority of incorrect answers related to drug-warfarin interaction. Five of the frequently incorrect questions covered drugs, herbs and diet that affect warfarin therapy. There were significant correlations between total questionnaire score and time in therapeutic range (rho = 0.539, P < 0.001), or percentage of international normalized ratio measurements within range (rho = 0.416, P < 0.001). There were significant correlations between patients' educational level and total questionnaire score (rho = 0.357, P = 0.001). No significant correlations were found between income or living area and total questionnaire score (rho = 0.110, P = 0.435; rho = 0.161, P = 0.149). Conclusion Patient knowledge level of anticoagulation therapy affects anticoagulation control. Education for patients new to warfarin and the evaluation of knowledge by validated questionnaire is recommended for better INR control.

Gene-based anticoagulation regimens for an infant after mitral-valve replacement: A case report

RATIONALE

Heart-valve replacement is one of the main surgical methods for various heart-valve diseases. Warfarin is the only oral anticoagulant used for thrombosis prevention after heart-valve replacement. However, warfarin has a narrow therapeutic window, large differences in efficacy between individuals, and can be affected by drugs, food and disease status.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We used the Hamberg model to develop an anticoagulation regimen for a 10-month-old Chinese male after mitral-valve replacement.

DIAGNOSES

Echocardiography revealed mitral malformation with severe regurgitation, patent foramen ovale, thickening of the left ventricular wall, enlargement of the left atrium, and the overall systolic function of the left ventricle was lower than normal.

INTERVENTIONS

First, the patient was treated with Mitral valvuloplasty plus temporary implantation of a pacing wire. Since this was inadequate, he underwent mitral-valve replacement. Then, we used the Hamberg model to develop an anticoagulation regimen.

OUTCOMES

After discharge from hospital, the pharmacist provided anticoagulation management for this pediatric patient using an "Online Anticoagulation Clinic" (OAC). Point-of-care testing could be employed by the boy's mother at home to obtain the International Normalized Ratio. His time to response was 89.6% during the 6 months after hospital discharge, and adverse reactions such as bleeding or thrombosis did not occur.

LESSONS

This is the first time the Hamberg model has been employed to design anticoagulation therapy for an Asian infant. His anticoagulation therapy may be managed using the OAC.

Impact of a pharmacist-led education and follow-up service on anticoagulation control and safety outcomes at a tertiary hospital in China: a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

This study was designed to evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-led anticoagulation service on international normalised ratio (INR) control and other outcomes among patients receiving warfarin therapy at a tertiary hospital in Zhuhai, China.

METHODS

In this randomised controlled trial, adult patients who were newly initiated on warfarin with intended treatment duration of at least 3 months were recruited. Participants were randomly allocated to receive the pharmacist-led education and follow-up service (PEFS) or usual care (UC). Anticoagulation control was calculated as the proportions of time within the target INR range (TTR) and time within the expanded target range (TER).

KEY FINDINGS

A total of 152 participants (77 in the PEFS group and 75 in the UC group) were included. Within 180 days after hospital discharge, the PEFS group spent more TER than the UC group (54.4% versus 42.0%; P = 0.024), whereas the difference in TTR did not reach statistical significance (35.9% versus 29.5%; P = 0.203). No major bleeding events were observed, and the cumulative incidences of major thromboembolic events (6.5% versus 9.3%) and mortality (1.3% versus 1.3%) were similar between the two groups (P> 0.05). At 30 days postdischarge, the PEFS group had better warfarin knowledge by answering 57.5% of questions correctly, compared with the UC group (43.0%) (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

The PEFS markedly enhanced anticoagulation control and warfarin knowledge but there was room for improvement. The expansion of pharmacists' clinical role and the development of more effective education and follow-up strategies are warranted to optimise anticoagulation management services in China.

Comparison of the outcomes of warfarin therapy and economics by online and offline anticoagulation management models: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Warfarin is widely used in the world as oral anticoagulant, but it is difficult to manage patients after medication due to its narrow treatment window and individualised differences. Therefore, every region uses network means to carry out online anticoagulant therapy services. The purpose of this paper is to compare monitoring results and randomised controlled studies of the complications of warfarin treated by offline or online management in a Chinese population.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a randomised controlled, multicentre clinical trial. Taking the Union Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University as the main centre, a randomised controlled study of several subcentres around China produced a nationally representative sample. 496 participants who took warfarin will be recruited and then randomly divided into two groups at a ratio of 1:1. We will collect data on patient characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, hospitalisation results and later complications.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Union Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University. All cooperative hospitals have been approved by the Central Ethics Committee. The results of the survey will be disseminated in future peer review documents and will provide the basis for a management model for patients in China taking warfarin.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR1900021920.

Outcomes of warfarin therapy managed by pharmacists via hospital anticoagulation clinic versus online anticoagulation clinic

Background In response to the recognized difficulty in the management of patients on anticoagulation therapy, anticoagulation management services were developed in both hospital anticoagulation clinics (HACs) and an online anticoagulation clinic (OAC) by a pharmacist. Objective To compare monitoring outcomes and complications of warfarin therapy managed by pharmacists via hospital or on-line. Setting The anticoagulation clinic of Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, China. Method A retrospective, observational cohort study was used to compare patients managed via hospital  to those managed o-line between December 2015 and 2016. The primary outcome was the percentage of time in the therapeutic range (TTR). The secondary outcomes were the incidence rates of hemorrhagic events, thrombotic events and extreme international normalized ratio (INR) values. Results A total of 152 patients were evaluated; 70 patients managed in a HAC were compared to 82 patients managed via an OAC. There were no significant differences in the TTR (78.9 vs. 74.0%, P = 0.393) and adverse events [major bleeding events (0 vs. 1.2%, P = 1.000), minor bleeding events (10.0 vs. 9.8%, P = 0.960), thromboembolic events (0 vs. 0%, P = 1.000), warfarin-related emergency visits (2.9 vs. 3.7%, P = 1.000)], warfarin-related hospital admissions (0 vs. 1.2%, P = 1.000), and the incidence of subtherapeutic (3.0 vs. 3.8%, P = 0.148), and extreme total (8.4 vs. 5.8%, P = 0.135), between the groups managed via HAC and OAC. Patients managed in the HAC were more stable on warfarin, with a higher percentage of INR values within the target therapeutic range (80.2 vs. 71.9%, P = 0.005) and a lower incidence of supratherapeutic INR values (8.4 vs. 18.5%, P = 0.001) compared to patients managed via OAC. Conclusion The management of oral anticoagulation therapy on-line yielded similar clinical outcomes compared to that achieved by management via the hospital, although the incidence of supra-therapeutic INR values was increased.