Drug Adherence in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Taking Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Turkey: NOAC-TR

Adherence to oral anticoagulants in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: the role of patients' characteristics and out-of-pocket payments

BACKGROUND

Recent practice guidelines favor direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over warfarin for primary stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). However, challenges persist in Iraq's private pharmaceutical sector. DOACs have been sold at high and inconsistent retail prices and lack insurance coverage, leading to significant out-of-pocket (OOP) costs. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of OOP costs on oral anticoagulants (OAC) adherence among NVAF patients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This multicenter cross-sectional study interviewed 359 eligible patients attending three private cardiology clinics within Iraq's southern region from December 2022 to February 2023. The 8-item Morisky Adherence Scale evaluated patient adherence. Statistical analyses, including descriptive analysis, ANOVA, and chi-square. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The most frequently prescribed OAC were DOACs (62.8%). Patient adherence level to OAC was chiefly medium (54.6%) with no significant difference in adherence based on OAC type. Patient adherence was significantly associated with monthly income (p = 0.001), number of daily pills (p = 0.006), and OACs' average monthly cost (p = 0.011).

CONCLUSION

Addressing the issue of cost-related non-adherence to OACs requires multiple actions. These include ensuring comprehensive health insurance coverage for OACs, increasing the use of affordable generic alternatives, and establishing effective cost-related discussions between healthcare providers and patients.

Minimal Adherence Threshold to Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation to Reduce the Risk of Thromboembolism and Death: A Nationwide Cohort Study

PURPOSE

Poor adherence to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) may raise thromboembolic risks in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the minimal adherence to maintain the protective effect of NOACs is currently unknown. Therefore, we investigated thresholds of NOAC adherence in association with thromboembolic and mortality risks.

METHODS

Patients with AF initiating NOACs between 2013 and 2019 were identified in Belgian nationwide data. Adherence was measured using the proportion of days covered (PDC) after one year of treatment. Inverse probability of treatment weighted Cox regression was used to investigate outcomes.

RESULTS

92,111 persons were included (250,750 person-years). Compared to NOAC users with a one-year PDC of 100%, significantly higher risks of stroke or systemic embolism were observed among NOAC users with PDCs of 85-89% (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.19-1.54)), 80-84% (aHR 1.31, 95%CI (1.08-1.58)) and < 80% (aHR 1.64, 95%CI (1.34-2.01)), while no significant differences were observed among NOAC users with one-year PDCs of 95-99% (aHR 1.02, 95%CI (0.94-1.12)) or 90-94% (aHR 1.06, 95%CI (0.95-1.18)). Significantly higher risks of all-cause mortality were observed with decreasing levels of NOAC adherence, which were already higher among NOAC users with a one-year PDC of 90-94% versus 100% (aHR 1.09, 95%CI (1.01-1.17)). Findings were similar with once-daily and twice-daily dosed NOACs.

CONCLUSION

Poor adherence to NOACs is associated with increased risks of thromboembolism and all-cause mortality. The minimal adherence threshold should be ≥ 90%, preferably even ≥ 95%.

Anticoagulant Treatment Adherence and Persistence in German Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

INTRODUCTION

Treatment adherence and persistence impact the effectiveness of edoxaban for the prevention of thromboembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective of this analysis was to assess adherence and persistence of edoxaban vs. other non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs).

METHODS

Utilizing a German claims database, adults with AF with the first pharmacy claim identified for edoxaban, apixaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or VKAs from January 2013 to December 2017 were included in a propensity score-matched analysis. The first pharmacy claim was the index claim. Adherence (i.e., proportion of days covered [PDC]) and persistence (proportion of patients who continued therapy) were compared between edoxaban and other therapies. Patients receiving once-daily (QD) vs. twice-daily (BID) NOAC were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Overall, 21,038 patients were included (1236 edoxaban, 6053 apixaban, 1306 dabigatran, 7013 rivaroxaban, and 5430 VKA). After matching, baseline characteristics were well balanced across cohorts. Adherence was significantly higher for edoxaban vs. apixaban, dabigatran, and VKAs (all P < 0.0001). Significantly more edoxaban patients continued therapy vs. rivaroxaban (P = 0.0153), dabigatran (P < 0.0001), and VKAs (P < 0.0001). Time to discontinuation was significantly longer for edoxaban vs. dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and VKAs (all P < 0.0001). More patients receiving NOACs QD had a PDC ≥ 0.8 compared with those receiving NOACs BID (65.3 vs. 49.6%, respectively; P < 0.05); persistence rates were comparable between QD and BID groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with AF receiving edoxaban had significantly higher adherence and persistence compared with those receiving VKAs. This trend was also seen in NOAC QD regimens vs. NOAC BID regimens for adherence. These results provide insight into how adherence and persistence may contribute to the effectiveness of edoxaban for stroke prevention in patients with AF in Germany.

Direct oral anticoagulants: patient reported adherence and minor bleedings

Data regarding adherence and minor bleeding on direct oral anticoagulants in everyday life are still sparse. Inclusion criteria: treatment initiated with dabigatran, rivaroxaban or apixaban in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients from a center in northern Sweden between 2011 and 2019 (n = 668). Exclusion criteria: cognitive impairment, dose dispensing, need of interpreter or hospital admission (n = 67). By a telephone interview adherence was measured in 569 patients (response rate 94.8%) using the 8-item Morisky medication adherence scale and minor bleeding was asked for. CHA₂DS₂-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were collected from medical records. The number (n), mean age, mean treatment duration, mean (points) CHA₂DS₂-VASc and HAS-BLED scores was with dabigatran (n = 175, 73.3 years, 17.8 months, 3.6 p and 2.2 p), rivaroxaban (n = 198, 73.7 years, 21months, 3.8 p and 2.1 p) and apixaban (n = 196, 72.7 years, 15.2 months, 3.4 p and 2.1 p). Adherence was high for dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban in 54%, 76% and 53%; intermediate in 37%, 20% and 37% or low in 9%, 4% and 10% respectively. High adherence (Morisky score 8) distinguished rivaroxaban (p < 0.0001) and in patients with CHA₂DS₂-VASc ≥ 4 p, (p < 0.0001). Patients on rivaroxaban/apixaban reported more minor bleedings (37% / 28%) compared to dabigatran (13%), (p < 0.001). Only 61% of the patients followed prescription. Adherence to rivaroxaban was significantly better, maybe due to the once daily dosing regimen, and furthermore among patients with higher risk for stroke. Minor bleedings were less common in the dabigatran group. The impact of minor bleedings on adherence and a possible relationship to clinical outcomes need to be further studied.

Impact of treatment adherence on the effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation: a retrospective cohort study

AIMS

The impact of adherence to oral anticoagulation has not been reported in terms of absolute risk, which would enhance patients' understanding and treatment adherence.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This retrospective cohort study analysed data from the National Health Insurance Database of Korea, from January 2010 to December 2018, on 84 227 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The participants were analysed according to their overall adherence to oral anticoagulants (OACs) and further divided into four groups: non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) adherent, vitamin K antagonist (VKA) adherent, NOAC non-adherent, and VKA non-adherent. The incidence of ischaemic stroke, major bleeding, and death was compared between the four groups using risk difference, number needed to treat and number needed to harm. Among the participants, 50 178 were adherent to (OACs), while 34 049 were non-adherent. The incidence of major bleeding was higher in the adherent group (4.49%; 95% confidence interval, 4.11-4.85%) than in the non-adherent group (3.61%; 3.16-4.06%), and the incidence of ischaemic stroke was higher in the non-adherent group (7.68%; 7.08-8.33%) than in the adherent group (5.61%; 5.17-6.07%). In terms of risk difference, adherence to OACs increased the risk of major bleeding by 0.87% and decreased the risk of ischaemic stroke by 2.08%. This finding suggests that one additional major bleeding event occurred for every 115 adherent patients, and one additional ischaemic stroke event was prevented for every 48 adherent patients.

CONCLUSION

The benefits of OAC adherence in NVAF patients for ischaemic stroke prevention exceeding the risk of bleeding are shown more clearly in terms of absolute risk.

Impact of drug interactions with direct oral anticoagulants on mortality in elderly with atrial fibrillation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective

To evaluate the effect of drug interactions with chronic direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) on mortality in older atrial fibrillation (AF) patients during the Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods

We followed a total of 601 elderly patients (65 years of age) from the NOEL-Drug Registry cohort who were referred to a tertiary outpatient clinic between 9 March 2020 and 1 March 2021. We recorded clinical characteristics and medications for the last 3 months. In addition, all drug interactions were identified using Lexicomp®. Finally, we recorded retrospectively all death events, COVID-19 diagnosis, and relevant deaths from the database at the end of the study. According to logistic regression, we performed propensity score (PS) matching to reduce potential bias. Factors associated with total mortality in the 12 months were analyzed using multivariable Cox proportion hazard analysis.

Results

The mean age [standard deviation (SD)] was 74.5 (±6.9), and the male/female ratio was 337/264. The prevalence of total mortality was 16.9% (n = 102). A total of 4472 drugs were analyzed for DOAC interaction. 81.8% of older AF patients were not at risk in terms of potential interaction. In the Cox proportional hazard model after PS-matching, previous DOAC use with class X interaction was associated with significantly higher mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.745, 95% confidence interval: 1.465-5.172, p = 0.004).

Conclusions

Our study showed that while most co-medications do not have significant interactions with DOACs, few serious drug interactions contribute to mortality in elderly patients with AF during the pandemic.

Impact of drug interactions with direct oral anticoagulants on mortality in elderly with atrial fibrillation during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of drug interactions with chronic direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) on mortality in older atrial fibrillation (AF) patients during the Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic.

METHODS

We followed a total of 601 elderly patients (65 years of age) from the NOEL-Drug Registry cohort who were referred to a tertiary outpatient clinic between 9 March 2020 and 1 March 2021. We recorded clinical characteristics and medications for the last 3 months. In addition, all drug interactions were identified using Lexicomp®. Finally, we recorded retrospectively all death events, COVID-19 diagnosis, and relevant deaths from the database at the end of the study. According to logistic regression, we performed propensity score (PS) matching to reduce potential bias. Factors associated with total mortality in the 12 months were analyzed using multivariable Cox proportion hazard analysis.

RESULTS

The mean age [standard deviation (SD)] was 74.5 (±6.9), and the male/female ratio was 337/264. The prevalence of total mortality was 16.9% (n=102). A total of 4472 drugs were analyzed for DOAC interaction. 81.8% of older AF patients were not at risk in terms of potential interaction. In the Cox proportional hazard model after PS-matching, previous DOAC use with class X interaction was associated with significantly higher mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.745, 95% confidence interval: 1.465-5.172, p=0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that while most co-medications do not have significant interactions with DOACs, few serious drug interactions contribute to mortality in elderly patients with AF during the pandemic.

Social and psychological risk factors for decreased adherence among patients with atrial fibrillation

Adherence has a direct impact on reducing the effectiveness of atrial fibrillation therapy and increasing the risk of thromboembolic events. Among the factors involved in the decrease of adherence, the social and psychological characteristics of patients remain insufficiently studied. At the same time, the available publications allow us to conclude that there are markers of the risk of reduced adherence in patients with atrial fibrillation, which include age, cognitive impairment, psychoemotional disorders (including depression and anxiety) and specific behavioral patterns.

[Impact of anxiety disorders on adherence to anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation]

AIM

To evaluate the impact of anxiety disorders on adherence to anticoagulant therapy (ACT) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

179 outpatients (131 women, 48 men, mean age 69.96.2 years) with AF were examined. The research methods included a physical examination according to the standards of medical care in an outpatient facility, clinical and psychopathological examination using psychometric scales.

RESULTS

Based on the assessment of adherence to ACT using the MoriskyGreen test, 2 groups of patients were identified: Group 1 patients with high adherence to ACT, Group 2 patients with partial/low adherence to ACT. In group 1, anxiety disorders were verified in 51.7% of cases, in group 2 54.3%. There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence and severity of anxiety in the study groups. In accordance with the binary logistic regression model, the probability of high adherence to therapy is determined by higher (compared with the group of patients with partial/low adherence to therapy) scores in terms of mental health (p0.001), vital activity (p=0.02) and the total score of the SF-36 scale (p=0.08), as well as the extraversion parameter (p=0.02) of the NEO-FFI scale.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, no significant association was found between anxiety symptoms and a decrease in adherence to ACT in patients with AF. However, the results obtained suggest a contribution to the adherence to therapy of personality characteristics.

Oral Anticoagulant Use and Long-Term Follow-Up Results in Patients with Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation in Turkey AFTER-2 Study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of oral anticoagulant drugs and time in therapeutic range in patients receiving warfarin in addition to the epi-demiological trial of non-valvular atrial fibrillation previously conducted in Turkey (The Atrial Fibrillation: Epidemiological Registry trial). Furthermore, the prevalence of major adverse events and mortality rates of the patients were evaluated during the long-term follow-up period.

METHODS

We created a national data registry for non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients, reflecting all geographic regions by population density. In that context, the study included all consecutive atrial fibrillation patients older than 18 years of age who were admitted to the cardiology outpatient clinic except for patients those with prosthetic heart valvesand rheumatic mitral valve stenosis.

RESULTS

This study included 2592 patients from 35 different centers. The mean age was 68.7 ± 11.1 years, and 55.5% of the patients were female. The most common comorbid diseases were chronic kidney disease (69%) and hypertension (65.5%). The time in ther- apeutic range rate in the general population was 40%, and the mortality rate at 5-year follow-up was 29.4%.

CONCLUSION

The Atrial Fibrillation: Epidemiological Registry 2 study showed higher use of anticoagulant in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients than in previous national stud-ies. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that most of the non-valvular atrial fibrilla- tion patients are in the high-risk group and the time in therapeutic range rates are still low in Turkey. As a result, this is a significant reason for switching from warfarin to non-K vitamin-dependent new oral anticoagulant treatments.

Oral anticoagulant adherence and switching in patients with atrial fibrillation: A prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Adherence to oral anticoagulants (OACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is important in preventing stroke. The dominance of retrospective studies using administrative data has led to a lack of data on psychosocial determinants of adherence and prevented comparison of adherence between OAC drug classes. OAC switching is another aspect of adherence that is unexplored.

METHODS

A prospective design was utilized to measure AF patients' self-reported adherence and OAC switching, and to identify their clinical, demographic, and psychosocial determinants. Participants were recruited from specialized AF clinics in Canada and followed for up to 2 years. Data were collected via telephone every 3-4 months using a structured survey. Adherence was measured using the Morisky Medication Adherence scale (©MMAS-8).

RESULTS

The included participants (N = 306) were followed for a median follow up time of 14.1 months and had an average of 3.2(SD 1.4) study visits. The mean self-reported adherence on the ©MMAS-8 was 7.28(SD 0.71) for patients receiving care at specialized AF clinics. Older age, experiencing a bleed, and higher satisfaction with the burden of medications were significantly associated with higher adherence. Drug class did not have any significant impact on adherence. 7.8% of the cohort experienced a switch with most of them being from warfarin to DOAC. Taking warfarin as the index medication, experiencing a bleed and older age were significantly associated with higher odds of switching.

CONCLUSION

Patients with AF reported high adherence to their OAC therapy however being on DOAC may not translate to better adherence compared to VKA. Improving satisfaction with the burden of therapy is important in improving adherence.

Factors associated with non-adherence to the use of coumarin derivatives or direct oral anticoagulants: a systematic review of observational studies

Non-adherence to thromboprophylaxis treatment with oral anticoagulants (OAC) is a public health problem and may be associated with high mortality rates. We sought to synthesize the factors associated with non-adherence to therapy with coumarin derivatives or direct oral anticoagulants. A systematic review was performed at electronic databases Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Lilacs and grey literature (Google Scholar, MedNar, OpenGray, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses and hand search). This study was conducted according to Cochrane's method and PRISMA. The registration on PROSPERO is CRD42020223555. Overall, 1,270 studies were identified and nine studies were selected for this review. In hand search, 77 studies were found, but none included. The associated factors with non-adherence were heterogeneous, and some factors were described as both risk and protection for non-adherence, with few variables showing consistent results among the studies. Variables reported only as risk factors were "male sex"; "hospitalization"; "Charlson score" and "bleeding", while "white race"; CHA₂ DS₂ VASc (score range 2-9)" and "polypharmacy" were reported only as protective factors. Most studies did not present details in the description of concepts and methods to assess non-adherence. In clinical practice, the knowledge on factors associated with non-adherence is helpful to identifying patients at higher risk of complications that would benefit from individualized interventions.

Assessment of treatment patterns and patient awareness in atrial fibrillation patients using non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (ASPECT-NOAC)

Background and Aim

Despite the advances in oral anticoagulation with NOACs, careful patient and dose selection is required with NOAC therapy. Our study aimed to assess treatment patterns of NOACs in AF along with patients’ continuity to NOAC treatments in first year, and their knowledge level of AF and NOAC treatment.

Methods

ASPECT-NOAC was designed as an observational, prospective, and multicenter study. AF patients who were prescribed NOACs within last four months were recruited from 34 outpatient cardiology clinics covering all geographic regions of Turkey. Baseline data were collected initially whereas patient awareness was evaluated at 3 to 4 weeks. Final study visit was performed at 12 months.

Results

In total, 991 patients were included to the study. Mean ± standard deviation of age was 69.4 ± 10.2 years and 53.0% of patients were female. Mean duration from AF diagnosis was 24.9 ± 50.9 months. Mean CHA₂DS₂-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were 3.1 ± 1.5 and 1.6 ± 1.1, respectively. AF disease and NOAC treatment knowledge levels were found to be 48.9 ± 23.1% and 73.0 ± 19.3%, respectively. Among reduced dose users 71.4% of patients were prescribed inappropriate reduced doses. Through the study follow-up, 32 patients (3.2%) deceased and NOAC therapy was discontinued in 74 patients (8.7%).

Conclusion

AF patients who recently started NOAC treatment in Turkey were found to have variable knowledge about their disease and anticoagulation treatment. It was observed that most of the patients continued the NOAC treatment throughout the study. Reduced dosing of NOACs was common, which was associated with higher baseline risk for bleeding as well as stroke.

Factors related to patient adherence to the use of new oral anticoagulants

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the self-reported adherence of patients with cardiovascular diseases to the use of new oral anticoagulants and to identify factors related to adherence to these drugs.

METHOD

This is a descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study, carried out with outpatients. The collection of sociodemographic, clinical, and adherence data, through the Measurement of Adherence to Treatments, was made through telephone calls. Descriptive, correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were used.

RESULTS

A total of 120 patients using new anticoagulants for 32.3 months, on average, participated in the study. More than half of the sample consisted of women, who were professionally inactive, with a mean age of 70.1 years and a mean family income of 6.7 minimum wages. The mean adherence score was 5.7, in a possible range between 1 and 6, indicating medication adherence. Inactive employment status, female sex, higher family income, and follow-up at a public outpatient clinic were related to greater adherence to these medications.

CONCLUSION

The patients showed high adherence to new anticoagulants. Employment status, sex, family income, and type of outpatient follow-up were related to medication adherence, and should be considered in the design of interventions for this public.

The impact of mental health conditions on oral anticoagulation therapy and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

One third of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are estimated to suffer from mental health conditions (MHCs). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the impact of MHCs on the prevalence and quality of oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy and outcomes in patients with AF. Medline database was searched for studies published before March 1st 2021 evaluating AF patients with comorbid MHCs reporting on the prevalence of OAC therapy, time in therapeutic range (TTR) in warfarin-receiving patients, adherence to OAC therapy or adverse outcomes (ischemic stroke, hemorrhage or mortality). Studies reporting on outcome events were included in the meta-analysis. The literature search yielded 17 studies including 977,535 patients that fulfilled the inclusion criteria of this review. AF patients with MHCs had a lower prevalence of OAC use and poorer TTR compared with patients without MHCs. Evidence on OAC quality in patients receiving direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) was minimal and inconclusive. A decrease in depression-associated deficit in OAC prevalence was observed after the introduction of DOACs. Pooled analysis of five studies reporting on outcomes showed that MHCs were an independent risk factor for both stroke (RR 1.25, 95%CI 1.08-1.45, I² 0%) and major bleeding (RR 1.17, 95%CI 1.08-1.27, I² 27%). Data on mortality were lacking and therefore not included in the meta-analysis. Evidence on the impact of specific MHCs on the outcomes were inadequate. In conclusion, MHCs are independent risk factors for stroke and major bleeding in patients with AF. Future studies are needed to confirm the findings of this meta-analysis, to evaluate the prognostic impact of different MHCs and to clarify whether the introduction of DOACs might have improved the outcomes of these patients.

Novel Drug Interaction index and Risk of Mortality in Older Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Receiving Non Vitamin K Oral Anticoagulants (NOEL Drug)

Drug interactions with novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) may decrease their advantages. We aimed to explore the drug interaction rates with NOACs and impacts of drug interaction index (DII) on mortality among older patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). In this retrospective cohort study, we enrolled 704 eligible patients aged 65≤ with AF between January 1, 2018 and December 30, 2019 in a tertiary outpatient cardiology clinic. We recorded demographic, clinical characteristics, and medications for the last 3 months. At the end of the evaluation visit (March 1, 2020), death events and dates were recorded. All medications were checked for drug interactions using Lexicomp® software. Each drug interaction was annotated according to risk grade. Moreover, we determined a new index ratio of C/D/X classes to total interactions called DII. The mean age was 75.19  ±  7.13 and 398 (56%) were male. Death events were observed in 106 (15%) patients. A total of 9883 drugs were analyzed for drug interactions. The majority of drug interactions were in class A (80.7%). Clinically relevant interactions were 14.6% (Class C/D/X). The area under receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.704 (95% confidence interval: 0.653-0.754) and 0.167 cutoff value (68.9% sensitivity and 80.2% specificity [3.11 positive likelihood ratio]) for DII to predict mortality. This study showed an overview of the NOACs interactions in older patients with AF. Additionally, the inappropriate NOAC dose and DII showed an association with mortality. NOAC treatment should be guided by drug interaction applications to reduce mortality.

Flow Cytometric Assessment of Endothelial and Platelet Microparticles in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Treated With Dabigatran

The prothrombotic state in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is related to endothelial injury, the activation of platelets and the coagulation cascade. We evaluated the levels of platelet- (CD42b) and endothelial-derived (CD144) microparticles in the plasma patients with non-valvular AF treated with dabigatran at the time of expected minimum and maximum drug plasma concentrations. Following that, we determined the peak dabigatran plasma concentration (c_peak ). CD42b increased after taking dabigatran (median [IQR] 36.7 [29.4-53.3] vs. 45.6 [32.3-59.5] cells/µL; p = 0.025). The concentration of dabigatran correlated negatively with the post-dabigatran change in CD42b (ΔCD42b, r = -0.47, p = 0.021). In the multivariate model, the independent predictors of ΔCD42b were: c_peak (HR -0.55; with a 95% confidence interval, CI [-0.93, -0.16]; p = 0.007), coronary artery disease (CAD) (HR -0.41; 95% CI [-0.79, -0.02]; p = 0.037) and peripheral artery disease (PAD) (HR 0.42; 95% CI [0.07, 0.74]; p = 0.019). CD144 did not increase after dabigatran administration. These data suggest that low concentrations of dabigatran may be associated with platelet activation. PAD and CAD have distinct effects on CD42b levels during dabigatran treatment.

Evaluation of Bleeding Rate and Time in Therapeutic Range in Patients Using Warfarin Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic-Warfarin Treatment in COVID-19

The treatment process of patients using warfarin is expected to be hindered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore we investigated whether the time in therapeutic range (TTR) and bleeding complications were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. 355 patients using warfarin were included between March 2019 to March 2021. Demographic parameters, INR (international normalized ratio), and bleeding rates were recorded retrospectively. The TTR value was calculated using Rosendaal’s method. The mean age of the patients was 61 ± 12 years and 55% of them were female. The mean TTR value during the COVID-19 pandemic was lower than the pre-COVID-19 period (56 ± 21 vs 68 ± 21, P < 0.001). Among the patients, 41% had a lack of outpatient INR control. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 71 (20%) patients using VKA suffered bleeding. Among patients with bleeding, approximately 60% did not seek medical help and 6% of patients performed self-reduction of the VKA dose. During the COVID-19 pandemic, TTR values have decreased with the lack of monitoring. Furthermore, the majority of patients did not seek medical help even in case of bleeding.

World Heart Federation Roadmap on Atrial Fibrillation - A 2020 Update

The World Heart Federation (WHF) commenced a Roadmap initiative in 2015 to reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease and resultant burgeoning of healthcare costs. Roadmaps provide a blueprint for implementation of priority solutions for the principal cardiovascular diseases leading to death and disability. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of these conditions and is an increasing problem due to ageing of the world’s population and an increase in cardiovascular risk factors that predispose to AF. The goal of the AF roadmap was to provide guidance on priority interventions that are feasible in multiple countries, and to identify roadblocks and potential strategies to overcome them.

Since publication of the AF Roadmap in 2017, there have been many technological advances including devices and artificial intelligence for identification and prediction of unknown AF, better methods to achieve rhythm control, and widespread uptake of smartphones and apps that could facilitate new approaches to healthcare delivery and increasing community AF awareness. In addition, the World Health Organisation added the non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) to the Essential Medicines List, making it possible to increase advocacy for their widespread adoption as therapy to prevent stroke. These advances motivated the WHF to commission a 2020 AF Roadmap update. Three years after the original Roadmap publication, the identified barriers and solutions were judged still relevant, and progress has been slow.

This 2020 Roadmap update reviews the significant changes since 2017 and identifies priority areas for achieving the goals of reducing death and disability related to AF, particularly targeted at low-middle income countries. These include advocacy to increase appreciation of the scope of the problem; plugging gaps in guideline management and prevention through physician education, increasing patient health literacy, and novel ways to increase access to integrated healthcare including mHealth and digital transformations; and greater emphasis on achieving practical solutions to national and regional entrenched barriers. Despite the advances reviewed in this update, the task will not be easy, but the health rewards of implementing solutions that are both innovative and practical will be great.

Adherence to direct oral anticoagulant treatment for atrial fibrillation in the Netherlands: A surveillance study

BACKGROUND

Adherence to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation in every day practice may be less than in clinical trials.

AIMS

To assess adherence to DOACs in atrial fibrillation patients in every day practice and identify predictors for non-adherence.

METHODS

Individual linked dispensing data of atrial fibrillation patients who used DOACs were obtained from the Foundation for Pharmaceutical Statistics covering the Netherlands between 2012 and 2016. One year adherence to DOAC was calculated for initial DOAC as proportion of days covered (PDC) ≥80% and the association between clinical variables and adherence was assessed using logistic regression. In addition, we measured non-persistence, that is, patients who completely stopped their initial DOAC within 1 year follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 4797 apixaban-, 20 454 rivaroxaban- and 18 477 dabigatran users were included. The mean age was 69 years (n = 43 910), which was similar for the DOAC types. The overall proportion of patients with PDC ≥80% was 76%, which was highest for apixaban- (87%), followed by dabigatran- (80%) and rivaroxaban (69%) users. Multivariable analyses revealed that age ≤60 years, no concomitant drug use were predictors for non-adherence. Of atrial fibrillation patients who continued treatment, 97% had a PDC ≥80%, compared with only 56% for those who discontinued their DOAC treatment within 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-adherence to DOACs was associated with age ≤60 years and no concomitant drugs use. Non-adherence was higher in patients who later discontinued DOAC treatment. Results of our study support research into interventions to improve adherence.

Budget Impact Analysis of Anticoagulation Clinics in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation under Chronic Therapy with Oral Anticoagulants

OBJECTIVES

To assess budget impact of the implementation of an anticoagulation clinic (AC) compared to usual care (UC), in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

METHOD

A decision tree was designed to analyze the cost and events rates over a 1-year horizon. The patients were distributed according to treatment, 30% Direct Oral Anticoagulant (DOAC) regimens and the rest to warfarin. The thromboembolism and bleeding were derived from observational studies which demonstrated that ACs had important impact in reducing the frequency of these events compared with UC, due to higher adherence with DOACs and proportion of time in therapeutic range (TTR) with warfarin. Costs were derived from the transactional platform of Colombian government, healthcare authority reimbursement and published studies. The values were expressed in American dollars (USD). The exchanged rate used was COP $3.693 per dollar.

RESULTS

During 1 year of follow-up, in a cohort of 228 patients there were estimated 48 bleedings, 6 thromboembolisms in AC group versus 84 bleedings, and 12 thromboembolisms events in patients receiving UC. Total costs related to AC were $126 522 compared with $141 514 in UC. The AC had an important reduction in the cost of clinical events versus UC ($52 085 vs $110 749) despite a higher cost of care facilities ($74 436 vs $30 765). A sensibility analysis suggested that in the 83% of estimations, the AC produced savings varied between $27 078 and $135 391.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that AC compared with UC, produced an important savings in the oral anticoagulation therapy for patients with NVAF.

Real-life data of major and minor bleeding events with direct oral anticoagulants in the one-year follow-up period: The NOAC-TURK study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) during daily clinical practice.

METHODS

This was a prospective study conducted between January 01, 2016, and April 01, 2017, in patients aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of NVAF. We performed the study in 9 clinical centers from different regions of Turkey, and the mean follow-up period was 12+2 months. We investigated major and minor bleeding events of DOAC.

RESULTS

A total of 1807 patients with NVAF were enrolled. The mean age of the patients was 73.6±10.2 years, CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.6±1.4, and HAS-BLED score was 2±1.2. The most frequently prescribed DOAC was dabigatran 110 mg bid in 409 (22.6%) patients. The patients on apixaban 2.5 mg bid were older (p<0.001). Patients on rivaroxaban 15 mg od also had a higher prevalence of chronic renal failure, 46 (16.7%) patients. A total of 205 (11.4%) bleeding events were observed; among these, 34 (1.9%) patients had major bleeding and 171 (9.4%) patients had minor bleeding. The major and minor bleeding events were 2/273 (0.7%) and 30/273 (10.9%) in patients receiving dabigatran 150 mg bid, 13/409 (3%) and 44/409 (10.7%) in patients receiving dabigatran 110 mg bid, 4/385 (1%) and 42/385 (10.9%) in patients receiving rivaroxaban 20 mg od, 8/276 (2.9%) and 27/276 (9.7%) in patients receiving rivaroxaban 15 mg od, 3/308 (0.9%) and 14/308 (4.5%) in patients receiving apixaban 5 mg bid, 4/156 (2.5%) and 14/156 (9%) in patients receiving apixaban 2.5 mg bid, respectively. The total bleeding events were 17 (5.6%) in patients receiving apixaban 5 mg, less than those receiving other DOACs. On multivariate analyses, rivaroxaban 20 mg od (p=0.002), ATRIA and HAS-BLED scores, and peripheral artery disease were independent indicators of bleeding. The most frequent location of major bleeding was the gastrointestinal system (GIS) [17 (0.9%) patients], and the most frequent location of minor bleeding was the gingiva [45 (2.5%) patients].

CONCLUSION

This study showed that similar results as the previous real-life study; however, we had some different results, such as the GIS tract bleeding was more frequent in patients receiving dabigatran 110 mg bid. The major and intracranial bleeding events were similar for different DOACs; and among DOACs, only rivaroxaban 20 mg od was associated with a high risk of bleeding.

Factors Associated with Anticoagulation Adherence in Chinese Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation

PURPOSE

Inadequate medication adherence among patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) will directly affect the efficacy and safety of anticoagulation therapy, leading to a considerable increase in the risk of ischemic stroke and death. In this study, we aim to investigate medication adherence and identify the influencing factors, including social-demographic, disease-related information and self-efficacy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We recruited 170 patients with NVAF from a tertiary hospital atrial fibrillation outpatient clinics and cardiology ward from June 2020 to September 2020. Patients who had been taking oral anticoagulation medication for at least 3 months were included. And Morisky medication adherence scale (MGL) was used to assess the adherence to anticoagulants, which scores <4 were considered as low adherence.

RESULTS

Fifty (29.4%) NVAF patients had a MGL score<4. Monthly income, types of comorbidities, number of drugs, and self-efficacy were determinants of anticoagulation adherence. Binomial logistic regression showed that patients had been prescribed more durgs (OR: 3.51, p=0.002), had high monthly income (OR: 7.87, p=0.001), without other diseases (OR: 8.00, p=0.005), and with higher self-efficacy (OR: 1.42, p=0.001) showed high adherence.

CONCLUSION

Number of drugs, types of comorbidities, monthly income, and self-efficacy were associated with the adherence of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs).

Anti-FXa-IIa activity test in Asian and its potential role for drug adherence evaluation in patients with direct oral anticoagulants: a nationwide multi-center synchronization study

BACKGROUND

The data of anti-FXa-IIa activity detection in Asian population is insufficient, and its potential role for drug adherence evaluation in patients with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) remains unclear. This study carried out multi-center anti-FXa-IIa activity detection in Asian, aiming to explore its applicability in Asian population and find its role in adherence evaluation.

METHODS

We assessed patients' self-reported adherence using the Morisky, Green, and Levine Adherence Scale (MGLS) from six hospitals. Plasma samples were collected for peak and trough concentration determination, and anti-FXa-IIa chromogenic assay was conducted using rivaroxaban/dabigatran calibrators and controls. Multivariate logistic regression models, covariate adjustment and spearman's two-tailed test were conducted in the data analysis. This study had been registered in clinical trials (NCT03666962).

RESULTS

In total, 271 patients taking rivaroxaban (n=149) or dabigatran (n=122) were enrolled. Among the 271 patients assessed by MGLS questionnaire, 188 persons (69.4%) showed high adherence, 77 persons (28.4%) was in intermediate adherence group, and only 6 patients (2.2%) had low adherence. Patients are more adherent dosed once daily of rivaroxaban compared to twice daily of dabigatran: 75.6% vs. 63.6%. Anti-FXa-IIa activity had good linear correlation with routine coagulation indexes (P<0.001), but no significant association was found between drug adherence and anti-FXa-IIa activity (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms that anti-FXa-IIa activity detection based on target drug calibrations can be used as an effective index for pharmacodynamic evaluation in Asian population, but had limited value in drug adherence evaluation for DOACs. As the limited samples, these findings could serve as a hypothesis-generating effort, and should be validated in further studies with larger sample sizes.

Evaluation of risk factors and drug adherence in the occurrence of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation

Background:

Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients are at high risk of developing a stroke and anticoagulant medications are generally prescribed to prevent stroke in AF population.

Objective:

This study aims to evaluate stroke risk factors among hospitalized patients with AF and to assess the level of adherence to medications in AF patients and their relation with stroke.

Methods:

This is a case-control study conducted between June 1^st, 2018 and December 31^th, 2018 among AF patients admitted to seven tertiary Lebanese hospitals. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Adherence to medications was assessed using the Lebanese Medication Adherence Scale-14. Odds ratios (OR) expressed the strength of association between the independent variables and the dependent variable and were estimated using unconditional logistic regression adjusted for confounding factors. P<0.05 determined statistical significance.

Results:

In total, 174 cases of AF patients were included with 87 cases and 87 controls. The risk of stroke among AF significantly increased with the presence of a history of hypertension, aOR 16.04 (95%CI, 2.27-113.37; p=0.005), history of coronary heart disease/myocardial infarction, and history of obesity. Anticoagulant medication significantly decreased the risk of stroke among AF patients, aOR 0.27 (95%CI, 0.07-0.98; P=0.047). High adherence to medications was significantly associated with a reduced risk of stroke, aOR 0.04 (95%CI, 0.01-0.23; p<0.001).

Conclusions:

Having a history of hypertension is one of the strongest risk factors for stroke among AF patients in Lebanon. While anticoagulant medication use was associated with a reduced risk for stroke, high adherence to medications is critical for stroke prevention. Public health interventions are needed to tackle low-adherence to medication and prevent stroke among AF patients.

Minor bleeding affects the level of knowledge in patients with atrial fibrillation on oral anticoagulant therapy

BACKGROUND

Anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of minor bleeding, which is mostly accepted by patients. We aimed to assess whether continuation of anticoagulation despite minor bleeding is associated with a higher level of knowledge on AF and anticoagulation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In 1525 patients with AF on oral anticoagulation who completed the Jessa AF Knowledge Questionnaire (JAKQ) (median age: 72 years [range, 65-79 years]; men: 54.6%), persistent self-reported minor bleeding was recorded. Minor bleeding was observed in 567 patients (37.2%) including 224 patients (39.5%) on vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and 343 (60.5%) on non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). The risk of minor bleeding was lower among patients on NOACs than on VKAs (33.5% vs 44.6%; P < .0001). Multiple logistic regression showed that minor bleeding was associated with the use of NOACs (odds ratio [OR] 0.75; 95% CI 0.59-0.97), female gender (OR 2.19; 95% CI, 1.74-2.75; P < .0001), history of major bleeding (OR 2.85; 95% CI, 1.96-4.14; P < .0001), time since AF diagnosis (OR 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06; P < .0001), concomitant vascular disease (OR 1.43; 95% CI, 1.10-1.87; P = .0008) and diabetes mellitus (OR 1.3; 95% CI, 1.02-1.65, P = .03). Patients with minor bleeding, compared with the remaining subjects scored higher on the JAKQ (median, 62.5% vs 56.2%, respectively, P < .0001). The former group knew more about the purpose of anticoagulant therapy (71.8% vs 65.7%, P = .01) and bleeding as its key side effect (66.1% vs 52.7%, P < .0001), and were better informed on the safest painkillers to use in combination with anticoagulation (48% vs 35%, P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that AF patients who accept persistent minor bleeding have better knowledge on the disease and anticoagulation therapy compared with those free of these side effects.

Patient Adherence to Novel Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs) for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation and Occurrence of Associated Bleeding Events: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Real-world evidence from published observational studies of adherence to Novel Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs) medications and associated clinical outcome events in Atrial Fibrillation (AF) patients, was reviewed systematically.

METHODS

Observational studies assessing patient adherence to NOACs conducted on AF patients between September 2010 and June 2016 were identified by systematic searching keywords to locate eligible studies, in accordance with Cochrane guidelines. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases were searched to identify the studies. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model with DerSimonian-Laird weighting to obtain pooled effect sizes.

RESULTS

From 185 potentially relevant citations, 6 studies, comprising 1.6 million AF patients, were included. Among these, successful adherence to NOACs occurred in 75.6%. Adherence levels were higher in patients treated with dabigatran (72.7%) compared with those treated with apixaban (59.9%) or rivaroxaban (59.3%). However, adherence was still suboptimal (relative to an expected 80% adherence rate). Bleeding events in non-adherent patients were found to be 7.5%.

CONCLUSION

Suboptimal adherence to NOACs among AF patients was highlighted as a significant risk factor that may affect clinical outcomes, with a higher percentage of non-adherent patients having bleeding events. There is an urgent need for research on the effects of specific interventions to improve patient adherence to NOACs and to assess the related outcome factors that may be associated with adherence.

Association of patient satisfaction with direct oral anticoagulants and the clinical outcomes: Findings from the SAKURA AF registry

BACKGROUND

The burden or benefit of anticoagulation treatment affects patient satisfaction, which may in turn affect the adherence to the treatment and subsequent outcomes. Thus, we hypothesized that the patient satisfaction with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) may influence the clinical outcome in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

We investigated the clinical outcomes among 719 DOAC users (age 71.9 ± 9.1 years, 184 females, and 449 persistent AF) enrolled in the SAKURA AF Registry who completed a satisfaction questionnaire with anticoagulation therapy by means of the Anti-Clot Treatment Scale (ACTS), which included 12-item burden and 3-item benefit scales. During a 41.8-month-follow-up, a stroke/systemic embolism (SE) occurred in 27 patients (3.8%) and major bleeding events in 25 (3.5%). A univariate Cox regression analysis revealed that an older age, persistent AF, higher CHA₂DS₂-VASc score, no history of AF ablation, lower creatinine clearance, and lower ACTS benefit scores were significantly associated with an increased risk of a stroke/SE, but not with major bleeding events. A low benefit score remained an independent predictor of a stroke/SE even after a multivariate adjustment. The ACTS burden scores were not associated with any clinical events.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a strong association between a low benefit satisfaction and increased stroke risk. We should follow patients carefully to educate them on treatment importance for patients unsatisfied with the benefits of DOACs for stroke prevention.

The unmeasured burden: Contribution of depression and psychological stress to patient-reported outcomes in atrial fibrillation

INTRODUCTION

Patient-reported outcomes are routinely assessed in atrial fibrillation (AF) to evaluate efficacy of treatment and as clinical trial outcomes. The relation of depression to such measures has had limited study in AF.

METHODS

In a cohort receiving treatment for AF, we assessed depression with the Patient Health Questionniare-9 (PHQ; 0-4, normal range; 5-9, mild depression; ≥10 moderate depression). We related depression to disease-specific quality of life with the AF Effect on QualiTy of life (AFEQT, range 0-100) and the Global Perceived Stress Scale (GPPS, range 0-24) in multivariable-adjusted models.

RESULTS

In 260 individuals (age 71.7 ± 10.1, 44.6% women) with AF, 51 (26.1%) had PHQ scores ≥5 and 17 (6.5%) ≥10. AFEQT scores decreased progressively with depression severity (normal range PHQ, 81.4 ± 14.1; mild depression, 65.8 ± 17.1; moderate depression, 50.6 ± 19.3). Individuals without depression had lower GPPS scores (3.0 ± 2.6) than those with mild (4.9 ± 2.5) or moderate (8.9 ± 4.0) depression. In multivariable-adjusted models mild depression was associated with a 12.1-point (95% confidence interval [CI], -17.2 to -6.9) decrease in AFEQT and 1.9-point (95% CI, 1.1 to 2.7) increase in GPSS, while moderate depression a 27.7-point (95% CI, -35.5 to -19.8) decrease in AFEQT and 5.5-point (95% CI, 4.2 to 6.8) increase in GPSS, relative to normal range PHQ. Regression analyses confirmed significant correlations between depression and AFEQT and GPPS scores in multivariable-adjusted models.

CONCLUSIONS

We determined that depression is associated with a step-wise, progressively adverse change in patient-centered outcomes in individuals with AF. Our findings suggest the importance of assessing depression in the evaluation of AF. Subject term list: health services, atrial fibrillation, risk factors.

Protocol for MAAESTRO: Electronic Monitoring and Improvement of Adherence to Direct Oral Anticoagulant Treatment-A Randomized Crossover Study of an Educational and Reminder-Based Intervention in Ischemic STROke Patients Under Polypharmacy

Background: Non-adherence to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) remains a matter of concern, especially for patients with a recent stroke. However, data on electronically monitored adherence and adherence-improving interventions are scarce. Aims: We aim to use electronic monitoring in DOAC-treated stroke patients to (i) evaluate the effect of an educational, reminder-based adherence-improving intervention, (ii) investigate predictors of non-adherence, (iii) identify reliable self-report measures of adherence, and (iv) explore the association of non-adherence with clinical outcomes. Methods: Single-center, randomized, crossover, open-label study. Adherence to DOACs of polymedicated patients self-administering their medication will be monitored electronically throughout the 12-month-long study following hospitalization for ischemic stroke. After a 6-month observational phase, patients will receive pharmaceutical counseling with feedback on their intake history and be given a multi-compartment pillbox for the subsequent 6-month interventional phase. The pillbox will provide intake reminders either during the first or the last three interventional-phase months. Patients will be randomly allocated to reminders-first or reminders-last. Study outcomes: Primary: non-optimal timing adherence; Secondary: non-optimal taking adherence; timing adherence; taking adherence; self-reported adherence; clinical outcomes including ischemic and hemorrhagic events; patient-reported device usability and satisfaction. Sample size estimates: A sample of 130 patients provides 90% power to show a 20% improvement of the primary adherence outcome with intake reminders. Discussion: MAAESTRO will investigate various aspects of non-adherence and evaluate the effect of an adherence-improving intervention in DOAC-treated patients with a recent stroke using electronic monitoring. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03344146, Swiss National Clinical Trials Portal SNCTP000002410.

Management of patients with stroke treated with direct oral anticoagulants

Since their market approval, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are being increasingly used for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, the management of DOAC-treated patients with stroke poses several challenges for physicians in everyday clinical practice, both in the acute setting and in long-term care. This has spurred extensive research activity in the field over the past few years, which we review here.

Safety of once- or twice-daily dosing of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: A NOAC-TR study

Once-daily dosing of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) may increase patient adherence to treatment but may also be associated with a higher risk of bleeding. In this study, we investigated the adherence to once- or twice-daily dosing of NOACs and the risk of bleeding in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients. This multicenter cross-sectional study, conducted between 1 September 2015 and 28 February 2016, included 2214 patients receiving NOACs for at least 3 months, due to NVAF. Patients receiving once-daily or twice-daily NOAC doses were 1:1 propensity score matched for baseline demographic characteristics and the presence of other diseases. The medication adherence was assessed by the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Risk factors were investigated in relation to minor and major bleeding. The mean age of patients was 71 ± 10 years, and 53% of the patients were women. The medication adherence was lower in patients receiving twice-daily NOAC doses compared to once-daily-dose group (47% versus 53%, p = 0.001), and there was no difference between the groups in terms of minor (15% versus 16%, p = 0.292) and major bleeding (3% versus 3%, p = 0.796). Independent risk factors for bleeding were non-adherence to medication (OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.23-2.14, p = 0.001), presence of 3 or more other diseases (OR: 10.3, 95% CI: 5.3-20.3, p < 0.001), and HAS-BLED (Hypertension, Abnormal renal and liver function, Stroke, Bleeding, Labile INR, Elderly, Drugs or alcohol) score (OR: 4.84, 95% CI: 4.04-5.8, p < 0.001). In summary, the once-daily dose of NOACs was associated with increased patient adherence to medication, while it was not associated with bleeding complications.