Dataset Information

Direct Oral Anticoagulants and Warfarin for Atrial Fibrillation Treatment: Rural and Urban Trends in Medicare Beneficiaries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Data are needed on the use of oral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in rural versus urban areas, including the initiation of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).

Objective

We used Medicare data to examine rural/urban differences in anticoagulation use in patients with AF.

Methods

We identified incident AF in a 20% sample of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries (aged ≥ 65 years) from 2011 to 2016 and collected ZIP code and covariates at the time of AF. We identified the first anticoagulant prescription filled, if any, following AF diagnosis. We categorized beneficiaries into four rural/urban areas using rural-urban commuting area codes and used Poisson regression models to compare anticoagulant use.