Impact of computer-aided warfarin dosing in a Saudi Arabian cardiac centre

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of computer-aided dosing using Coagclinic (a web-based software) with physician dosing in patients receiving warfarin for various cardiac indications. Methods: In order to calculate the effectiveness of physician managed anticoagulation dosing, we calculated the "percentage of time international normalized ratio, INR, was in the therapeutic range" (TTR) for a random sample of 70 patients in the center. For each patient, 4 INR values were taken at 4 consecutive visits, before and after the installation of Coagclinic. Data on the doses given by physicians were collected at each visit and c omp ar ed them with the pharmacy-based computer aided dosing system data. Results: After performing paired samples t-test of doses based on the physician group with those based on the computer system (mean -1.5654 ± 2.09), a statistically significant difference was found (p < 0.015). Furthermore, the patients kept at TTR by physicians amounted to 26 % compared to 70 % by the software. Conclusion: The difference between TTR managed by physicians and those managed using CoagClinic™ software is statistically significant. It appears that the software improves the effectiveness of warfarin dosing in patients. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved.