Evaluation of anticoagulation selection for acute venous thromboembolism.
Treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been confined to parenteral agents and oral vitamin K antagonists for decades; however, with the approval of the direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), clinicians now have more options. This study aims to evaluate the real world prescribing practices of all oral anticoagulants for VTE at a single center. A retrospective cohort analysis of all adult patients diagnosed with acute onset VTE was conducted. Of the 105 patients included in the analysis, 45 (43 %) patients received warfarin and 60 (57 %) patients received a DOAC. Rivaroxaban and apixaban were the most common DOACs initiated. There were significantly more patients in the warfarin group with an eCrCl of <60 ml/min compared to patients who received a DOAC (77.8 % vs. 15 %; P < 0.05). There were significantly less patients in the warfarin group with serum aminotranferase concentrations three times the upper limit of normal compared to those who received a DOAC (15.6 % vs. 55 %; P < 0.05). Patients who received a DOAC had less days on parenteral anticoagulation compared to patients who received warfarin (median 2.5 days [IQR 0-4] vs. 6 days [IQR 5-7], p < 0.05). Patients who received a DOAC had a shorter hospital length of stay compared to patients who received warfarin (median 3 days [IQR 2-4] vs. 8 days [IQR 6-10], p < 0.05). This analysis showed that DOACs are being prescribed more than warfarin for treatment of new onset VTE. Renal and liver function may influence the agent prescribed. Utilization of DOACs may decrease the hospital length of stay.
Department of Pharmacy Services, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02120, USA. hbadreldin@partners.org.
Hisham
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7182-4347
H
Badreldin
Department of Pharmacy Services, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02120, USA.
Hunter
H
Nichols
Department of Pharmacy Services, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02120, USA.
Jessica
J
Rimsans
Department of Pharmacy Services, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02120, USA.
Danielle
D
Carter
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011728:Pyridones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069552:Rivaroxaban / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000925:Anticoagulants; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011728:Pyridones; C522181:apixaban; D014859:Warfarin; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D000637:Transaminases
Deep vein thrombosis; Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs); Pulmonary embolism; Venous thromboembolism; Warfarin