Evidence-Practice Gaps in Postdischarge Initiation With Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

ABSTRACT: Background Oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy reduces the risk of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation (AF), and is considered best practice; however, there is little Australian evidence around the uptake of OACs in this population. Methods and Results We used linked hospital admissions, pharmaceutical dispensing claims, medical services, and mortality data for people in Australia's 2 most populous states (July 2010 to June 2015). Among OAC-naïve people hospitalized with AF, we estimated initiation of OAC therapy within 30 days of discharge, and persistence with therapy in the first year. We analyzed both outcomes using multivariable Cox regression. In 71 184 people with AF (median age 78 years, 49% female), 22.7% initiated OAC therapy. Initiation was lowest in July to December 2011 (17

SUBMITTER: Schaffer AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6951075 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature