How to maintain an adherence to oral anticoagulant in a patient with atrial fibrillation?

Abstract

Less onerous, compared with warfarin, treatment with direct oral anticoagulants (DOA) can lead to better adherence to treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, in a certain number of patients with AF, who were recommended by DOA, cardioembolic stroke recurs, which is largely due to the patients’ failure to comply with medical recommendations. The appointment of DOA as firstline drugs does not guarantee a high adherence of patients with nonvalvular AF. For elderly and old patients with AF and numerous comorbidities, the proposal of a simpler pharmacotherapy regimen is especially important. In a number of large modern studies performed in clinical practice, high adherence to rivaroxaban therapy has been established, which may be a result of taking this DOA 1 time per day, its safety and effectiveness.