title: Assessment of the mean time in the therapeutic INR range and the SAME-TT2R2 score in patients with atrial fibrillation and cognitive impairment.
abstract: INTRODUCTION    Most patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are elderly and may have an increased risk of cognitive disorders. Low mean values of the therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) range (TTR) (≤60%) are associated with increased risk of stroke, vascular events, and bleeding complications. OBJECTIVES    The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of long-term anticoagulant therapy in patients treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), depending on their cognitive functions. In addition, we used the SAMe-TT2R2 risk score to predict the risk of ineffective anticoagulation. PATIENTS AND METHODS The analysis comprised 154 patients (68 men and 86 women; mean age, 76 ±10 years) with AF and indications for long-term therapy with VKA (CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥1, HAS-BLED score <3). Cognitive functions were evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. The efficacy of VKA therapy was determined by the TTR values from the preceding 6 months of treatment. We used the SAMe-TT2R2 score to identify patients who were likely to have poor INR control. RESULTS    Depending on the number of MMSE points, patients treated with VKAs were divided into 2 groups: patients with normal cognitive functions (MMSE score ≥27; n = 62) and those with cognitive impairment (MMSE score <27; n = 42). Despite the fact that all patients had indications for anticoagulant therapy, 50 patients (32%) received no VKAs on admission. The mean TTR value exceeded 60% in 61% of patients with an MMSE score of 27 points or higher, whereas mean TTR value was 28% in patients with an MMSE score of less than 27 (P <0.0001). Patients with a SAMe-TT2R2 score of 0 to 1 had higher TTR values than those with a SAMe-TT2R2 score of 2 or higher (r = -0.24; P <0.05 ). The cognitive status was significantly more impaired in patients with persistent and permanent AF compared with patients with paroxysmal AF (MMSE score, 25.8 ±3.7 vs 28.6 ±2; P <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS    Cognitive disorders in patients with AF significantly reduce the efficacy of VKA therapy. The decision to administer VKA treatment should be based not only on the CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores, but also on the SAMe-TT2R2 score and the evaluation of the patient's cognitive functions.
authors: Paulina
authors: P
authors: Gorzelak-Pabiś
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Zyzak
authors: Łukasz
authors: Ł
authors: Krewko
authors: Marlena
authors: M
authors: Broncel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014812:Vitamin K