biostudies-literatureSanghai SRNIDA NIH HHSNIA NIH HHSNHLBI NIH HHSNational Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNIMH NIH HHSNLM NIH HHS730-736https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8904680biostudies-literatureUnknown37(4)<h4>Background</h4>Frailty is often cited as a factor influencing oral anticoagulation (OAC) prescription in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). We sought to determine the prevalence of frailty and its association with OAC prescription in older veterans with NVAF.<h4>Methods</h4>We used ICD-9 codes in Veterans Affairs (VA) records and Medicare claims data to identify patients with NVAF and CHA₂DS₂VASC ≥2 receiving care between February 2010 and September 2015. We examined rates of OAC prescription, further stratified by direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) or vitamin K antagonist (VKA). Participants were characterized into 3 categories: non-frail, pre-frail, and frail based on a validated 30-item EHR-derived frailty index. We examined relations between frailty and OAC receipt; and frailty and type of OAC prescribed in regression models adjusted for factors related to OAC prescription.<h4>Results</h4>Of 308,664 veterans with NVAF and a CHA₂DS₂VASC score ≥2, 121,839 (39%) were prescribed OAC (73% VKA). The mean age was 77.7 (9.6) years; CHA₂DS₂VASC and ATRIA scores were 4.6 (1.6) and 5.0 (2.9) respectively. Approximately a third (38%) were frail, another third (32%) were pre-frail, and the remainder were not frail. Veterans prescribed OAC were younger, had higher bleeding risk, and were less likely to be frail than participants not receiving OAC (all p's<0.001). After adjustment for factors associated with OAC use, pre-frail (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.87-0.91) and frail (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.64-0.68) veterans were significantly less likely to be prescribed OAC than non-frail veterans. Of those prescribed OAC, pre-frail (OR:1.27, 95% CI: 1.22-1.31) and frail (OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.67-1.83) veterans were significantly more likely than non-frail veterans to be prescribed a DOAC than a VKA.<h4>Conclusions</h4>There are high rates of frailty among older veterans with NVAF. Frailty using an EHR-derived index is associated with decreased OAC prescription.Journal of general internal medicinePrevalence of Frailty and Associations with Oral Anticoagulant Prescribing in Atrial Fibrillation.PMC8904680R01 HL135219R01 HL125089R01 HL137794R01HL126911 R01HL13660, and R01HL141434R01 LM012817R01 HL141434R03 AG060169R01HL137794 and R01HL125089R01 MH125027R01 DA045816Orkaby ARLi WRose AJMcManus DDRongali SSaczynski JSSanghai SRWang WKapoor AYu HLiu WfalsePrevalence of Frailty and Associations with Oral Anticoagulant Prescribing in Atrial Fibrillation.<h4>Background</h4>Frailty is often cited as a factor influencing oral anticoagulation (OAC) prescription in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). We sought to determine the prevalence of frailty and its association with OAC prescription in older veterans with NVAF.<h4>Methods</h4>We used ICD-9 codes in Veterans Affairs (VA) records and Medicare claims data to identify patients with NVAF and CHA₂DS₂VASC ≥2 receiving care between February 2010 and September 2015. We examined rates of OAC prescription, further stratified by direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) or vitamin K antagonist (VKA). Participants were characterized into 3 categories: non-frail, pre-frail, and frail based on a validated 30-item EHR-derived frailty index. We examined relations between frailty and OAC receipt; and frailty and type of OAC prescribed in regression models adjusted for factors related to OAC prescription.<h4>Results</h4>Of 308,664 veterans with NVAF and a CHA₂DS₂VASC score ≥2, 121,839 (39%) were prescribed OAC (73% VKA). The mean age was 77.7 (9.6) years; CHA₂DS₂VASC and ATRIA scores were 4.6 (1.6) and 5.0 (2.9) respectively. Approximately a third (38%) were frail, another third (32%) were pre-frail, and the remainder were not frail. Veterans prescribed OAC were younger, had higher bleeding risk, and were less likely to be frail than participants not receiving OAC (all p's<0.001). After adjustment for factors associated with OAC use, pre-frail (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.87-0.91) and frail (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.64-0.68) veterans were significantly less likely to be prescribed OAC than non-frail veterans. Of those prescribed OAC, pre-frail (OR:1.27, 95% CI: 1.22-1.31) and frail (OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.67-1.83) veterans were significantly more likely than non-frail veterans to be prescribed a DOAC than a VKA.<h4>Conclusions</h4>There are high rates of frailty among older veterans with NVAF. Frailty using an EHR-derived index is associated with decreased OAC prescription.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Mar2025-05-29T19:45:10.803Z2025-04-19T07:34:44.255ZS-EPMC89046803394879510.1007/s11606-021-06834-1