[Clinical profile and satisfaction with anticoagulated treatment in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation attended in Internal Medicine and Neurology departments of Spain]

Rev Neurol. 2017 Oct 16;65(8):361-367.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Aim: To determine the clinical profile, management of anticoagulant treatment and satisfaction related to anticoagulation in outpatients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation attended in Neurology or Internal Medicine departments of Spain.

Patients and methods: Cross-sectional and multicenter study, in which 1,337 outpatients were included. Patients fulfilled ACTS, SAT-Q and EQ-5D questionnaires.

Results: 865 patients (64.7%) were recruited from Neurology department and 472 (35.3%) from Internal Medicine department. Those patients attended in Internal Medicine department were older and had more frequently hypertension, diabetes, heart failure, renal insufficiency and peripheral artery disease. Those patients attended in Neurology department had more commonly prior stroke. Overall, CHADS2 score was 3.2 ± 1.3, CHA2DS2-Vasc 4.8 ± 1.5 and HAS-BLED 2.0 ± 0.9. All scores were higher in those patients attended in Neurology department. Globally, 56.1% of patients were taking vitamin K antagonists, more commonly in Internal Medicine department. The adequate percent of time in therapeutic range was 47% (Rosendaal), without significant differences between groups. Satisfaction with oral anticoagulation was high in both groups, but higher in those attended in Neurology department, and higher in those individuals taking direct oral anticoagulants compared with vitamin K antagonists.

Conclusions: Although there were some differences in the clinical profile of patients with atrial fibrillation attended in Neurology or Internal Medicine departments, all of them had many comorbidities and a high thromboembolic risk. Despite INR control was poor, the most common oral anticoagulant used were vitamin K antagonists. Satisfaction related to oral anticoagulation was high.

Title: Perfil clinico y satisfaccion con el tratamiento anticoagulante en pacientes con fibrilacion auricular no valvular atendidos en consultas de medicina interna y neurologia de España.

Objetivo. Determinar el perfil clinico, el manejo del tratamiento anticoagulante y la satisfaccion relacionada con la anticoagulacion en pacientes con fibrilacion auricular no valvular atendidos en consultas de neurologia o medicina interna de España. Pacientes y metodos. Estudio prospectivo, transversal y multicentrico en el que se incluyo a 1.337 pacientes, que completaron los cuestionarios Anti-Clot Treatment Scale, Self-Assessment of Treatment Questionnaire y EuroQol-5 dimensions. Resultados. 865 pacientes (64,7%) provenian de consultas de neurologia, y 472 (35,3%), de medicina interna. Los atendidos en medicina interna eran mayores, tenian mas hipertension, diabetes, insuficiencia cardiaca, insuficiencia renal y arteriopatia periferica. Los pacientes atendidos en neurologia tenian mas antecedentes de ictus. Globalmente, la escala CHADS2 fue 3,2 ± 1,3; CHA2DS2Vasc, 4,8 ± 1,5, y HAS-BLED, 2,0 ± 0,9, y las puntuaciones mas altas fueron en neurologia. El 56,1% tomaba antagonistas de la vitamina K, lo que era mas comun en medicina interna. El porcentaje de tiempo en rango terapeutico adecuado fue del 47% (Rosendaal), sin diferencias entre los grupos. La satisfaccion con el tratamiento anticoagulante oral fue elevada en ambos grupos, aunque mayor en los sujetos atendidos en neurologia, y mayor con los anticoagulantes orales de accion directa que con los antagonistas de la vitamina K. Conclusiones. Aunque existieron ciertas diferencias en el perfil clinico de los pacientes con fibrilacion auricular atendidos en neurologia o medicina interna, todos presentaban multiples comorbilidades y un riesgo tromboembolico elevado. A pesar de que el control del indice internacional normalizado fue pobre, el anticoagulante oral mas empleado fueron los antagonistas de la vitamina K. La satisfaccion con el tratamiento anticoagulante oral fue alta.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use*
  • Atrial Fibrillation / complications
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Hospital Departments
  • Humans
  • Internal Medicine
  • Male
  • Neurology
  • Patient Satisfaction*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life
  • Self Report
  • Spain
  • Thromboembolism / etiology
  • Thromboembolism / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Anticoagulants