International travel amongst patients on chronic anticoagulation therapy.
The travel habits of a group of patients on anticoagulants after heart valve replacements with mechanical prostheses have been investigated. In spite of their advanced mean age (63 at follow-up) more than half of the patients (55%) thought that they could travel without problems. Of those who had been travelling 56% had been to a foreign country. Only 5% had check-ups of prothrombin time when staying abroad. The adoption of the International Normalized Ratio for prothrombin control, patient education and international agreements making it easier to have check-ups of prothrombin time, can result in more patients on anticoagulants, for different reasons, to travel, thus increasing their quality of life.
Thulin
L I
LI
Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014195:Travel
D000925:Anticoagulants