title: [Optimizing long-term anticoagulation by patient self-management?].
abstract: An active role of the patient in managing his own therapy leads to an optimized quality of long-term anticoagulation and to a reduction of hemorrhagic or thromboembolic complications of treatment. Our study shows that patients could be easily trained in the self-management of oral anticoagulation and that they achieve superior anticoagulation control. In 10 years 1244 patients were trained in the self-management of oral anticoagulation at the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center in Bad Berleburg, Germany. With regard to their self-determined prothrombin times (PT) 387 patients could be followed up. The results were within the target range in 81.5% of the PT measurements taken by the patients themselves. Only 18.5% PT's were outside of the target range. The incidence of more important bleedings was 0.33% per year and of thromboembolic complications was 0.25% per year. Self-management of oral anticoagulation is associated with a reduced risk of hemorrhagic and thromboembolic complications and an improvement of prognosis and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Herz-Kreislauf-Klinik, Bad Berleburg.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernardo
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012648:Self Care / Q000295:instrumentation; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants
vernacular_title: Optimierung der Langzeit-Antikoagulation durch Patienten-Selbstmanagement?