Utilization Pattern of Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Medicines Among the Patients Suffering From Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Background: Antithrombotic therapy is recommended in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients due to high risk of stroke. However, antithrombotic therapy is often underutilized due to adverse effects and limited data available in Indian population. Aims: Primary objective was to study usage pattern of antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs in AF patients. Secondary objective was to assess the risk of stroke and compare usage pattern of antithrombotic drugs in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients with application of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc score. Materials and Methods: A prospective and observational study was conducted in outpatient department for period of one year in patients >35 years of either gender diagnosed with AF due to any established cause. CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc score were used to assess risk of stroke among NVAF patients. Results: 111 patients diagnosed with AF (mean age 54 years; 54.96% female) were analyzed and out of these, 78 patients were valvular AF patients and 33 were NVAF patients. Anticoagulants were predominantly prescribed in 60 valvular AF patients. Out of 33 NVAF patients, 19 (57.57%) patients had CHADS2 score 1 while as per CHA2DS2-VASc score 28 (84.84%) patients had score >=2. Out of 33 NVAF patients, 15 (45.45%) patients were prescribed warfarin, aspirin in 12 (36.36%) patients and no antithrombotic therapy in 6 (18.18%) patients. Conclusion: Oral anticoagulant drugs are most commonly prescribed antithrombotic drugs in valvular AF and NVAF patients for stroke prevention. CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc score are easy, simple schemes to assess stroke risk in NVAF patients and helps physicians and patients to choose most suitable antithrombotic therapy.