SAMe-TT2 R2 Score: a useful tool in oral anticoagulation decision-making for venous thromboembolism patients? / Escore SAMe-TT2 R2: uma ferramenta útil na tomada de decisão de anticoagulação oral para pacientes com tromboembolismo venoso?

Background: The SAMe-TT2R2 score was introduced to identify atrial fibrillation patients with a high risk of not achieving a good time in therapeutic range (TTR) during vitamin K antagonists (VKA) therapy. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate this score in venous thromboembolism (VTE) patients. Patients and methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients receiving care at the outpatient anticoagulation clinic of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients were classified as having low (score 0-1) or high risk (score ≥2) of not achieving a good TTR. The area under the ROC curve was calculated to assess the ability of the score to predict a TTR ≥ 65%. Adverse event-free survival curves according to the SAMe-TT2 R2 score were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: We investigated 111 patients during a median follow-up of 2.3 (0.7-6.4) years. Mean age was 54.1 ± 15.7 years and 71 (64.0%) were women. Low- and high-risk groups had similar mean TTR (51.9 vs. 49.6%; p = 0.593). The two groups did not differ significantly in the percentage of patients achieving a TTR ≥ 65% (35.6 vs. 25.8%; p =0.370). The c-statistic was 0.595 (p = 0.113) for TTR ≥ 65%. Adverse event-free survival during anticoagulation was also similar in both groups (p = 0.136).Conclusions: The SAMe-TT2R2 score does not seem to be a useful tool in oral anticoagulation decision-making for patients with VTE and should not be used in this setting

Uso do escore HAS-BLED em um ambulatório de anticoagulação de um hospital terciário / Use of HAS-BLED score in an anticoagulation outpatient Clinic of a tertiary hospital

Fundamento: O escore HAS-BLED foi desenvolvido para avaliar o risco em um ano de sangramento maior em pacientes com fibrilação atrial (FA) anticoagulados com antagonistas da vitamina K (AVK). Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a capacidade do escore HAS-BLED e de seus componentes em predizer sangramento maior em pacientes atendidos em um ambulatório de anticoagulação de um hospital terciário. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo coorte retrospectivo com pacientes com FA tratados com AVK. Análise de regressão logística foi realizada para avaliar a capacidade de cada componente do escore em predizer sangramento maior. O nível de significância adotado em todos os testes foi de 5%. Resultados: Foram estudados 263 pacientes com média de idade de 71,1 ± 10,5 anos ao longo de um período de tratamento de 237,6 pacientes-ano. A mediana do escore HAS-BLED foi de 2 (1-3). A incidência de sangramento maior foi de 5,7%, sendo mais elevada nos pacientes de alto risco que nos pacientes de baixo risco (9,6 vs. 3,1%; p = 0,052). A área sob a curva ROC foi de 0,70 (p = 0,01). Um ponto de corte ≥ 3 mostrou sensibilidade de 66,7%, especificidade de 62,1%, valor preditivo positivo de 9,6% e valor preditivo negativo de 96,9%. Sobrevida livre de sangramento maior foi menor no grupo de alto risco (p = 0,017). Na análise multivariada, o único preditor independente de sangramento maior entre os componentes do escore foi o uso concomitante de antiplaquetários (OR 5,13, IC95%: 1,55-17,0; p = 0,007). Conclusão: O escore HAS-BLED foi capaz de prever sangramento maior na população de pacientes com FA estudada. Entre os componentes do escore, atenção especial deve ser dada para o uso concomitante de antiplaquetários, que mostrou associação independente. Em pacientes com FA em uso de AVK como terapia anticoagulante, o uso de antiplaquetários deve ser realizado somente naqueles pacientes com avaliação risco-benefício favorável

Background: HAS-BLED s core was developed to assess 1-year major bleeding risk in patients anticoagulated with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) due to atrial fibrillation (AF). Objective: Of this study was to assess the ability of HAS-BLED score and its components to predict major bleeding in patients treated in an anticoagulation outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital. Methods: A retrospective cohort study on AF patients treated with VKA was conducted. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the ability of individual score components to predict major bleeding. The significance level adopted in all tests was 5%. Results: We studied 263 patients with a mean age of 71.1 ± 10.5 years over a period of 237.6 patients-year. Median HAS-BLED score was 2 (1-3). The overall incidence of major bleeding was 5.7%, and it was higher among high-risk HAS-BLED score patients than in low risk patients (9.6 vs. 3.1%; p = 0.052). Area under the ROC curve was 0.70 (p = 0.01). Cut-off point ≥ 3 showed sensibility of 66.7%, specificity of 62.1%, positive predictive value of 9.6% and negative predictive value of 96.9%. Major bleeding-free survival was lower in high-risk group (p = 0.017). In multivariate analysis, concurrent antiplatelet use was the only independent predictor of major bleeding among score components (OR 5.13, 95%CI: 1.55-17.0; p = 0.007). Conclusion: HAS-BLED score was able to predict major bleeding in this cohort of AF patients. Among score components, special attention should be given for concomitant antiplatelet use, which was independently associated to this outcome. Antiplatelets in AF patients under VKA anticoagulation should be used in selected patients with favorable risk-benefit assessment

SAMe-TT2R2 Score in the Outpatient Anticoagulation Clinic to Predict Time in Therapeutic Range and Adverse Events / Uso do Escore SAMe-TT2R2 em Ambulatório de Anticoagulação para Predição de Tempo na Faixa Terapêutica e de Eventos Adversos

Abstract Background: The SAMe-TT2R2 score was developed to predict which patients on oral anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) will reach an adequate time in therapeutic range (TTR) (> 65%-70%). Studies have reported a relationship between this score and the occurrence of adverse events. Objective: To describe the TTR according to the score, in addition to relating the score obtained with the occurrence of adverse events in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) on oral anticoagulation with VKAs. Methods: Retrospective cohort study including patients with nonvalvular AF attending an outpatient anticoagulation clinic of a tertiary hospital. Visits to the outpatient clinic and emergency, as well as hospital admissions to the institution, during 2014 were evaluated. The TTR was calculated through the Rosendaal´s method. Results: We analyzed 263 patients (median TTR, 62.5%). The low-risk group (score 0-1) had a better median TTR as compared with the high-risk group (score ≥ 2): 69.2% vs. 56.3%, p = 0.002. Similarly, the percentage of patients with TTR ≥ 60%, 65% or 70% was higher in the low-risk group (p < 0.001, p = 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). The high-risk group had a higher percentage of adverse events (11.2% vs. 7.2%), although not significant (p = 0.369). Conclusions: The SAMe-TT2R2 score proved to be effective to predict patients with a better TTR, but was not associated with adverse events.

Resumo Fundamento: O escore SAMe-TT2R2 foi desenvolvido visando predizer quais pacientes em anticoagulação oral com antagonistas da vitamina K (AVKs) atingirão um tempo na faixa terapêutica (TFT) adequado (> 65%-70%) no seguimento. Estudos também o relacionaram com a ocorrência de eventos adversos. Objetivos: Descrever o TFT de acordo com o escore, além de relacionar a pontuação obtida com a ocorrência de eventos adversos adversos em pacientes com fibrilação atrial (FA) não valvar em anticoagulação oral com AVKs. Métodos: Estudo de coorte retrospectivo incluindo pacientes com FA não valvar em acompanhamento em ambulatório de anticoagulação de um hospital terciário. Foi realizada uma avaliação retrospectiva de consultas ambulatoriais, visitas a emergência e internações hospitalares na instituição no período de janeiro-dezembro/2014. O TFT foi calculado aplicando-se o método de Rosendaal. Resultados: Foram analisados 263 pacientes com TFT mediano de 62,5%. O grupo de baixo risco (0-1 ponto) obteve um TFT mediano maior em comparação com o grupo de alto risco (≥ 2 pontos): 69,2% vs. 56,3%, p = 0,002. Da mesma forma, o percentual de pacientes com TFT ≥ 60%, 65% ou 70% foi superior nos pacientes de baixo risco (p < 0,001, p = 0,001 e p = 0,003, respectivamente). Os pacientes de alto risco tiveram um percentual maior de eventos adversos (11,2% vs. 7,2%), embora não significativo (p = 0,369). Conclusões: O escore SAMe-TT2R2 foi uma ferramenta eficaz na predição do TFT em pacientes com FA em uso de AVKs para anticoagulação, porém não se associou à ocorrência de eventos adversos.

Major bleeding risk assessment in atrial fibrillation patients taking vitamin K antagonists

The use of risk scores for the assessment of major bleeding and stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) helps evaluate the risks and benefits of oral anticoagulation therapy. The aim of this study was to describe the percentage of patients receiving anticoagulants for non-valvular AF with a high risk of major bleeding based on the HAS-BLED score, as well as identify potential modifiable risk factors of bleeding and compare the risk of major bleeding with the risk of stroke. Methods: Retrospective cohort study involving patients of the anticoagulation outpatient clinic of the Division of Internal Medicine at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Major bleeding risk was estimated based on the HAS-BLED score and stroke risk was determined using the CHADS2 and CHA2 DS2 -VASc scores. Results: Sixty-three patients were investigated (mean age 74.3±10.9 years). The median HAS-BLED score was 2 points, 19 (30.2%) patients had a score ≥ 3 (high risk). The most prevalent modifiable risk factors were labile TP/INR (36.5%) and concomitant use of drugs (30.2%). The absolute risk of major bleeding based on the HAS-BLED score was higher than the risk of stroke in three (4.8%) and four (6.3%) patients in comparison with the CHADS2 and CHA2 DS2 -VASc score, respectively. Conclusions: We concluded that the percentage of patients with high risk of major bleeding is similar to the rate found in the national literature (30.2%). In addition, the most prevalent modifiable risk factors in our cohort were labile TP/INR and concomitant drug use...

Management of anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists in a tertiary hospital outpatient clinic

INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the main risk factors for stroke. Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) reduce this risk, and the effectiveness of this treatment is directly related to time in therapeutic range (TTR). This study aimed to report the TTR in patients with non-valvular AF at an anticoagulation outpatient clinic; and to describe the profile of this population of patients in terms of risk of stroke, as well as the occurrence of adverse events during the follow-up. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study involving patients of the anticoagulation outpatient clinic of the Department of Internal Medicine at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. We evaluated outpatient visits, hospital admissions, and emergency visits from January to December 2011. TTR was calculated using the Rosendaal method. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients were investigated. Their mean age was 74.3±10.9 years. The CHADS2 score was ≥ 4 in 44.5% of the patients; 63.5% of them had a CHA2 DS2 -VASc score ≥ 5. The TTR was 64.8%. During follow-up, the incidence of overall bleeding was 31.7%, with major and minor bleeding rates of 4.8% and 34.9%, respectively. There were no other complications related to AF or anticoagulation. CONCLUSION: The patients achieved a TTR of 64.8% during follow-up, which is deemed appropriate and in agreement with the literature. Patients had high risk for stroke, and the incidence of minor bleeding was higher than the rate found in the literature, whereas the incidence of major bleeding was similar to the one found in previous studies

Simulaçöes clínicas en medicina interna / Clinical simulations in internal medicine

Simulaçöes säo um instrumento didático valioso para o treinamento da tomada de decisöes clínicas, aspecto fundamental na formaçäo médica. O uso do computador pode tornar esse método mais ágil e eficiente. É nosso objetivo implementá-lo nas disciplinas do departamento de Medicina Interna da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Com o auxílio de um microcomputador, dezessete simulaçöes clínicas estäo sendo experimentalmente aplicadas em uma turma do sexto semestre cursando a disciplina de Medicina Interna. A experiência inicial näo permite uma avaliaçäo da efetividade do método

Influência do curso médico no aprendizado do alcoolismo / Influence of the medical course in teaching of alcoholism

Existem evidências de que o ensino de Alcoolismo nas escolas médicas é deficiente. A fim de verificar a validade dessa afirmativa foi feita uma análise dos conhecimentos dos alunos sobre o tema. Utilizou-se, para tanto, um questionário referente à etiologia do alcoolismo aplicado aos estudantes do 1§, 9§ e 12§ semestres da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Os resultados, em geral, näo demonstraram ocorrer alteraçöes significativas no decorrer do curso médico. Este fato reforça a idéia de que a Faculdade de Medicina exerce pouca influência sobre o conhecimento dos alunos no que se refere à doença Alcoolismo