Persistence and adherence to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation across five Western European countries.

AIMS: To assess persistence and adherence to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in five Western European healthcare settings. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a multi-country observational cohort study, including 559 445 AF patients initiating NOAC therapy from Stockholm (Sweden), Denmark, Scotland, Norway, and Germany between 2011 and 2018. Patients were followed from their first prescription until they switched to a vitamin K antagonist, emigrated, died, or the end of follow-up. We measured persistence and adherence over time and defined adequate adherence as medication possession rate ≥90% among persistent patients only. RESULTS: Overall, persistence declined to 82% after 1 year and to 63% after 5 years. When including restarters of NOAC treatment, 85% of the patients were treated with NOACs after 5 years. The proportion of patients with adequate adherence remained above 80% throughout follow-up. Persistence and adherence were similar between countries and was higher in patients starting treatment in later years. Both first year persistence and adherence were lower with dabigatran (persistence: 77%, adherence: 65%) compared with apixaban (86% and 75%) and rivaroxaban (83% and 75%) and were statistically lower after adjusting for patient characteristics. Adherence and persistence with dabigatran remained lower throughout follow-up. CONCLUSION: Persistence and adherence were high among NOAC users in five Western European healthcare settings and increased in later years. Dabigatran use was associated with slightly lower persistence and adherence compared with apixaban and rivaroxaban.

Improved Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation After the Introduction of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants.

Background and Purpose- The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of improved antithrombotic treatment in atrial fibrillation after the introduction of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants on the incidence of stroke and bleeding in a real-life total population, including both primary and secondary care. Methods- All resident and alive patients with a recorded diagnosis for atrial fibrillation during the preceding 5 years in the Stockholm County Healthcare database (Vårdanalysdatabasen) were followed for clinical outcomes during 2012 (n=41 008) and 2017 (n=49 510). Results- Pharmacy claims for oral anticoagulants increased from 51.6% to 73.8% (78.7% among those with CHA2DS2-VASc ≥2). Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant claims increased from 0.4% to 34.4%. Ischemic stroke incidence rates decreased from 2.01 per 100 person-years in 2012 to 1.17 in 2017 (incidence rate ratio, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.52-0.65). The largest increases in oral anticoagulants use and decreases in ischemic strokes were seen in patients aged ≥80 years who had the highest risk of stroke and bleeding. The incidence rates for major bleeding (2.59) remained unchanged (incidence rate ratio, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.92-1.09) even in those with a high bleeding risk. Poisson regression showed that 10% of the absolute ischemic stroke reduction was associated with increased oral anticoagulants treatment, whereas 27% was related to a generally decreased risk for all stroke. Conclusions- Increased oral anticoagulants use contributed to a marked reduction of ischemic strokes without increasing bleeding rates between 2012 and 2017. The largest stroke reduction was seen in elderly patients with the highest risks for stroke and bleeding. These findings strongly support the adoption of current guideline recommendations for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation in both primary and secondary care.

[Improved stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: the Stockholm experience of the introduction of NOACs]. / Förbättrad strokeprevention vid förmaksflimmer med NOAK - Erfarenheter från Stockholms Län.

The introduction of NOACs has put a focus on stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF). The number of patients in Stockholm diagnosed with non-valvular AF increased from 41 008 in 2011 to 51 266 in 2017 and their treatment has been markedly improved. Between 2011 and 2017 total oral anticoagulant treatment increased from 51.6% (warfarin) to 77.3% (31% warfarin, 46.3% NOACs) and aspirin decreased from 31.6% to 7.2%. Treatment was especially improved among patients with CHA2DS2-VASc scores ≥2 and elderly high risk patients. We found an excellent persistence with OAC treatment (88% at 1 year and 83% at 2 years). A comparative effectiveness study showed that NOACs were at least as effective and safe as warfarin even among patients ≥80 years or with previous serious bleeds. After a gradual introduction of NOACs with many educational activities apixaban is now the first-line choice for stroke prevention in AF in Stockholm. Swedish guideline goals are fulfilled and outcomes are improved.

Comparison of treatment persistence with different oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation.

PURPOSE: Oral anticoagugulants (OACs) effectively reduce the risk for ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but undertreatment and poor persistence with treatment are important problems. NOACs now provide alternatives to warfarin. This study compares the persistence with presently available antithrombotic treatments in AF patients with a CHA2DS2VASc score ≥2. METHODS: All first claims of either warfarin (n = 9969), dabigatran (n = 2701), rivaroxaban (n = 2074), apixaban (n = 1352), or aspirin (n = 4540) from April 2011 until December 2014, in individuals with non-valvular AF and CHA2DS2VASc scores of 2-9, were identified in the administrative health data register (VAL) of the Stockholm region (2.1 million inhabitants). Prescription claims were analyzed with and without multivariate analysis in relation to age, sex, prescriber category, prior OAC treatment, number of drugs, and death. RESULTS: The overall persistence with any OAC was 88.2% (CI 87.5-88.9) at 1 year and 82.9% (CI 81.8-83.9) at 2 years. After 1 year, the crude persistence was 85.0% (CI 84.2-85.9) with warfarin, 85.9% (CI 81.8-90.1) with apixaban, 74.4% (CI 72.3-76.5) with dabigatran, and 77.4% (CI 74.6-80.2) with rivaroxaban. Multivariate analysis confirmed significantly higher persistence with warfarin and apixaban than with dabigatran or rivaroxaban. The adherence (proportion of days covered >80%) was above 90% for all NOACs; significantly higher with rivaroxaban compared to dabigatran (p < 0.001), but not compared to apixaban (p = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: After 2 years, the persistence with any anticoagulant treatment was high in patients with non-valvular AF. Our results indicate better persistence with warfarin and apixaban than with dabigatran or rivaroxaban in regular care.

[More with atrial fibrillation, anticoagulants since the coming of NOAK ]. / Fler med förmaksflimmer får antikoagulantia sedan NOAK kom.

Since the introduction of NOAC (non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants) in 2011 as thromboprophylactic treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation, AF, the number of patients with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation has increased markedly in our health care registers. The proportion of patients treated with warfarin or NOAC has increased from 47 % to 58 % in 2013. The use of acetylsalicylic acid in patients is decreasing rapidly in patients with AF. NOAC are mostly prescribed by specialists and are mainly used in younger patients with lower CHA2DS2-VASc scores and lower risk for renal insufficiency and bleeding.

Regional variation and adherence to guidelines for drug treatment of asthma.

AIMS: To describe the utilization of antiasthmatic drugs in Sweden and to explore regional variations in drug utilization and adherence to guidelines for rational drug prescribing of antiasthmatics and their rationale. METHODS: Data on antiasthmatic drugs dispensed between July 2005 and December 2008 to all Swedish citizens aged between 18 and 44 years were obtained from the Swedish National Prescribed Drug Register. The period prevalence was determined by analyzing the number of users/1000 inhabitants, and the incidence by analyzing the number of new users after an 18-month drug-free wash-out period. Three drug-related indicators were used to assess the adherence to guidelines. All measures were analyzed by gender and region. RESULTS: A total of 161,000 patients were dispensed antiasthmatics in 2007, corresponding to a prevalence of 4 and 6% among men and women, respectively; the incidence rates were 2 and 3%, respectively. The total drug utilization and adherence to guidelines varied between regions. The total drug expenditures of antiastmatics were 258 million SEK (28 million euro), with fixed dose combinations accounting for 46% of the expenditure. No relation was found between models for allocating prescribing budgets or clear Drug and Therapeutics Committee recommendations and adherence to guidelines. CONCLUSION: There are large regional variations in the utilization of antiasthmatics between Swedish regions, with substantial room for improvement in the adherence to guidelines. New methods of influencing physician behavior may be needed in the future to enhance adherence.