title: Anticoagulant utilization evaluation in a teaching hospital: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Due to the importance of anticoagulation use along with the complications that deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) may bring about for the patients, in this study we decided to carry out a drug utilization evaluation on anticoagulants that are routinely administered in a tertiary teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anticoagulants utilization was evaluated in 400 patients from 4 wards (infectious disease, cardiology, nephrology, and cardiac care unit) of a tertiary teaching hospital in a cross-sectional, prospective study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the risk stratification, 220 (55%) of the evaluated patients have indication to receive anticoagulants as deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis. With definite diagnosis of DVT or PE, 169 (42.3%) patients have received anticoagulant therapy. In 11 (2.8%) cases, anticoagulants has been ordered inappropriately. In assessment of the anticoagulants regimens that were used as DVT prophylaxis doses of heparin and enoxaparin were appropriate in 75% and 79% of patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the existence of comprehensive guidelines for the prevention and treatment of DVT and PE, it is not performed accurately.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. khalilih@tums.ac.ir
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.forename: Simin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dashti-Khavidaki
authors.forename: Azita Haj-Hossein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Talasaz
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Najmedin
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hosseinpoor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D017984:Enoxaparin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012306:Risk; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D017984:Enoxaparin; D014859:Warfarin; D006493:Heparin