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Table 2 Clinical characteristics and distribution of patients according to the recommended treatment, by period of discharge.

From: Implementing hospital guidelines improves warfarin use in non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a before-after study

Clinical characteristics

2000

2004

 

N

(%)

N

(%)

Patients

313

(100.0)

388

(100.0)

Males

159

(50.8)

193

(49.7)

   < 70 years

65

(20.8)

71

(18.3)

   70–79 years

135

(43.1)

163

(42.0)

   ≥ 80 years

113

(36.1)

154

(39.7)

Hypertension

232

(74.1)

326

(84.0)

Previous stroke/TIA

100

(31.9)

95

(24.5)

Diabetes mellitus

77

(24.6)

91

(23.4)

Heart failure

146

(46.6)

209

(53.9)

Coronary heart disease

96

(30.7)

114

(29.4)

Recommended treatment:

N

(%)

N

(%)

OAT strongly recommended*:

106

(33.9)

105

(27.1)

   ▪ Very high risk of stroke

62

(19.9)

45

(11.6)

   ▪ High risk of stroke, age < 75

44

(14.0)

60

(15.5)

OAT or ASA recommended †:

101

(32.3)

124

(32.0)

   ▪ High risk of stroke, age ≥ 75

67

(21.4)

94

(24.2)

   ▪ Moderate risk of stroke

34

(10.9)

30

(7.7)

Uncertain ‡

96

(30.7)

146

(37.6)

   ▪ Very high risk of stroke

58

(18.5)

96

(24.7)

   ▪ High risk of stroke

38

(12.1)

50

(12.9)

OAT not recommended §

10

(3.2)

13

(3.3)

  1. *Patients without contraindications to OAT and a favourable balance for AT, for whom OAT is the preferred choice. †Patients without contraindications to OAT and a favourable balance for AT, but the choice between OAT or ASA should be individualised. ‡Patients with contraindications to OAT and high or very high risk of stroke: any decision about the use of OAT, ASA or no AT should be individualised, balancing the benefits with the risks due to the contraindications. §Patients with contraindications to OAT and low-moderate risk of stroke. OAT, oral anticoagulant therapy; AT, antithrombotic therapy; ASA, acetylsalicylic acid.
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BMC Public Health

ISSN: 1471-2458

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