ABSTRACT
Aims: To describe the prevalence and associated factors of inappropriate doses of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) in a national registry of patients of real clinical practice. Methods and results: Five hundred and thirty outpatients with atrial fibrillation treated with DOAC were included in a prospective, national, multicentre study. The appropriateness of the doses of DOAC was defined according to the recommendations of the European Heart Rhythm Association. Mean age was 73 ± 9 years, with a 46% of women. Two hundred and sixty-seven patients were prescribed dabigatran, 190 rivaroxaban, and 73 apixaban. A total of 172 patients (32%) did not receive the appropriate dose: 93 patients received a lower dose (18%) and 79 patients a higher dose (15%). In the comparisons among the subgroups of inappropriately low, appropriate, and inappropriately high dose, we observed significant trends to older age (69 ± 8 years vs. 73 ± 10 years vs. 77 ± 6 years), more frequent female sex (37% vs. 46% vs. 59%), antiplatelet drugs (5% vs. 8% vs. 25%), rivaroxaban (14% vs. 38% vs. 53%), and apixaban use (5% vs. 15% vs. 19%), higher CHAD2DS2-VASc (3.00 ± 1.38 vs. 3.58 ± 1.67 vs. 4.59 ± 1.44) and HAS-BLED scores (1.83 ± 0.87 vs. 1.92 ± 1.07 vs. 2.47 ± 1.13), lower body mass index (30 ± 6 kg/m2 vs. 29 ± 4 kg/m2 vs. 28 ± 4 kg/m2) and glomerular filtration rate (74 ± 27 mL/min vs. 70 ± 22 mL/min vs. 63 ± 16 mL/min), and lower frequency of dabigatran use (81% vs. 47% vs. 28%) (all comparisons P ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: In this real-life study, 32% of patients received an inappropriate dose of DOAC. Several clinical factors can identify patients at risk of this situation.
Subject(s)
Atrial Fibrillation/drug therapy , Factor Xa Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Guideline Adherence/statistics & numerical data , Inappropriate Prescribing/statistics & numerical data , Registries , Stroke/prevention & control , Thromboembolism/prevention & control , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Antithrombins/administration & dosage , Atrial Fibrillation/complications , Comorbidity , Dabigatran/administration & dosage , Female , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Pyrazoles/administration & dosage , Pyridones/administration & dosage , Retrospective Studies , Rivaroxaban/administration & dosage , Stroke/etiology , Thromboembolism/etiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Several bleeding risk scores have been validated in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The ORBIT score has been recently proposed as a simple score with the best ability to predict major bleeding. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that the ORBIT score was superior to the HAS-BLED score for predicting major bleeding and death in "real world" anticoagulated AF patients. METHODSâANDâRESULTS: We analyzed the predictive performance for bleeding and death of 406 AF patients who underwent 571 electrical cardioversion procedures and 1,276 patients with permanent/persistent AF from the FANTASIIA registry. In the cardioversion population, 21 patients had major bleeding events and 26 patients died. The predictive performance for major bleeding of HAS-BLED and ORBIT were not significantly different (c-statistics 0.77 (95% CI 0.66-0.88) and 0.82 (95% CI 0.77-0.93), respectively; P=0.080). For the FANTASIIA population, 46 patients had major bleeding events and 50 patients died. The predictive performances for major bleeding of HAS-BLED and ORBIT were not significantly different (c-statistics 0.63 (95% CI 0.56-0.71) and 0.70 (95% CI 0.62-0.77), respectively; P=0.116). For death, the predictive performances of HAS-BLED and ORBIT were not significantly different in both populations. The ORBIT score categorized most patients as "low risk". CONCLUSIONS: Despite the original claims in its derivation paper, the ORBIT score was not superior to HAS-BLED for predicting major bleeding and death in a "real world" oral anticoagulated AF population. (Circ J 2016; 80: 2102-2108).
Subject(s)
Atrial Fibrillation , Electric Countershock/adverse effects , Hemorrhage , Registries , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Atrial Fibrillation/mortality , Atrial Fibrillation/physiopathology , Atrial Fibrillation/therapy , Electric Countershock/methods , Female , Hemorrhage/etiology , Hemorrhage/mortality , Hemorrhage/physiopathology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Predictive Value of Tests , Risk Assessment , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which gives rise to the highly contagious COVID-19 disease, has caused a pandemic that is overwhelming health care systems worldwide. Affected patients have been reported to have a heightened inflammatory state that increases their thrombotic risk. However, there is very scarce information on the management of thrombotic risk, coagulation disorders, and anticoagulant therapy. In addition, the situation has also greatly influenced usual care in patients not infected with COVID-19. This article by the Working Group on Cardiovascular Thrombosis of the Spanish Society of Cardiology aims to summarize the available information and to provide a practical approach to the management of antithrombotic therapy.
Subject(s)
Betacoronavirus , Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy , Fibrinolytic Agents/therapeutic use , Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy , COVID-19 , Cardiology , Humans , Pandemics , Patient Selection , SARS-CoV-2 , Societies, Medical , Spain , COVID-19 Drug TreatmentABSTRACT
The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which gives rise to the highly contagious COVID-19 disease, has caused a pandemic that is overwhelming health care systems worldwide. Affected patients have been reported to have a heightened inflammatory state that increases their thrombotic risk. However, there is very scarce information on the management of thrombotic risk, coagulation disorders, and anticoagulant therapy. In addition, the situation has also greatly influenced usual care in patients not infected with COVID-19. This article by the Working Group on Cardiovascular Thrombosis of the Spanish Society of Cardiology aims to summarize the available information and to provide a practical approach to the management of antithrombotic therapy.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe major events at follow up in octogenarian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) according to anticoagulant treatment: direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) versus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). METHODS: A total of 578 anticoagulated patients aged ≥80 years with AF were included in a prospective, observational, multicenter study. Basal features, embolic events (stroke and systemic embolism), severe bleedings, and all-cause mortality at follow up were investigated according to the anticoagulant treatment received. RESULTS: Mean age was 84.0 ± 3.4 years, 56% were women. Direct oral anticoagulants were prescribed to 123 (21.3%) patients. Compared with 455 (78.7%) patients treated with VKAs, those treated with DOACs presented a lower frequency of permanent AF (52.9% vs 61.6%, P = .01), cancer history (4.9% vs 10.9%, P = .046), renal failure (21.1% vs 32.2%, P = .02), and left ventricular dysfunction (2.4% vs 8.0%, P = .03); and higher frequency of previous stroke (26.0% vs 16.6%, P = .02) and previous major bleeding (8.1% vs 3.6%, P = .03). There were no significant differences in Charlson, CHA2DS2VASc, nor HAS-BLED scores. At 3-year follow up, rates of embolic events, severe bleedings, and all-cause death (per 100 patients-year) were similar in both groups (DOACs vs VKAs): 0.34 vs 1.35 (P = .15), 3.45 vs 4.41 (P = .48), and 8.2 vs 11.0 (P = .18), respectively, without significant differences after multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03-1.93, P = .19; HR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.44-1.76, P = .72 and HR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.53-1.33, P = .46, respectively). CONCLUSION: In this "real-world" registry, the differences in major events rates in octogenarians with AF were not statistically significant in those treated with DOACs versus VKAs.
Subject(s)
Anticoagulants/administration & dosage , Atrial Fibrillation/drug therapy , Factor Xa Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Stroke/prevention & control , Vitamin K/antagonists & inhibitors , Administration, Oral , Age Factors , Aged, 80 and over , Anticoagulants/adverse effects , Atrial Fibrillation/diagnosis , Atrial Fibrillation/mortality , Factor Xa Inhibitors/adverse effects , Female , Hemorrhage/chemically induced , Humans , Male , Prospective Studies , Registries , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , Spain/epidemiology , Stroke/diagnosis , Stroke/mortality , Time Factors , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and ischaemic heart disease (IHC) increases with age. They coexist in up to 20% of octogenarian patients, a situation that poses a therapeutic challenge. Trials that have addressed this scenario, which included a low percentage of octogenarians, showed that double therapy (single antiplatelet + anticoagulation) compared to triple therapy (double antiplatelet + anticoagulation) was associated with less bleeding events, especially with direct oral anticoagulants. These studies did not have sufficient power to detect differences in ischaemic events. On the other hand, prevalent characteristics in the elderly, such as geriatric syndromes, were not assessed in these studies, and are not usually evaluated in clinical practice. Accordingly, their prognostic impact remains unknown in this clinical context. METHODS: Observational, prospective, and multicentre study that will include patients ≥ 80 years with AF and IHC in Spain. Baseline characteristics and geriatric syndromes will be assessed, as well as the choice of antithrombotic treatment. The primary endpoint is cardiovascular and overall mortality at one and three years follow-up. RESULTS: This study will assess both characteristics and prognosis of octogenarian patients with AF and IHC in Spain, the factors involved in the choice of antithrombotic treatment, and the incidence of ischaemic and haemorrhagic events during the short- and long-term follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study will contribute to improve the knowledge in terms of safety and efficacy of the different therapeutic options in older patients with AF and IHC, as well as their prognostic impact.
Subject(s)
Anticoagulants/therapeutic use , Atrial Fibrillation , Fibrinolytic Agents/therapeutic use , Myocardial Ischemia , Aged, 80 and over , Anticoagulants/adverse effects , Atrial Fibrillation/complications , Atrial Fibrillation/drug therapy , Fibrinolytic Agents/adverse effects , Humans , Multicenter Studies as Topic , Myocardial Ischemia/complications , Myocardial Ischemia/drug therapy , Myocardial Ischemia/mortality , Observational Studies as Topic , Prospective Studies , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: There is compelling evidence supporting the association between high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) and low on-treatment platelet reactivity (LPR) to clopidogrel with atherothrombotic and bleeding events, respectively. However, it is uncertain if current cutoff values should be used in prasugrel- or ticagrelor-treated subjects. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the pharmacodynamic (PD) efficacy of P2Y12 antagonists in a contemporary real-world population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This PD study included 988 patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and receiving dual therapy with aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor (clopidogrel, prasugrel or ticagrelor). Platelet function was assessed at day 1 and day 30 post-PCI by VerifyNow P2Y12 assay, multiple electrode aggregometry and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) assay. RESULTS: Clopidogrel-treated patients (nâ¯=â¯324) had greater platelet reactivity than those receiving ticagrelor (nâ¯=â¯469) or prasugrel (nâ¯=â¯195) at both time points (pâ¯<â¯0.001 for all comparisons). No difference between ticagrelor and prasugrel was observed at day 1 with the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay (51.5⯱â¯2.8 vs. 42.7⯱â¯3.5 PRUs; pâ¯=â¯0.298), whereas ticagrelor achieved greater platelet inhibition at day 30 (48.1⯱â¯2.5 vs. 89.2⯱â¯4.2 PRUs; pâ¯<â¯0.001). Similar results were obtained with the VASP assay. Both prasugrel and ticagrelor had markedly lower HPR rates than clopidogrel and very high rates of LPR at both time points. CONCLUSIONS: Prasugrel and ticagrelor displayed more potent and consistent PD effects than clopidogrel in ACS patients undergoing PCI, with a trend towards greater platelet inhibition with ticagrelor during the maintenance phase of therapy compared to prasugrel.
Subject(s)
Acute Coronary Syndrome/therapy , Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods , Platelet Function Tests/methods , Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use , Acute Coronary Syndrome/pathology , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists/pharmacologyABSTRACT
During the last few years, the number of patients receiving anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy has increased worldwide. Since this is a chronic treatment, patients receiving it can be expected to need some kind of surgery or intervention during their lifetime that may require treatment discontinuation. The decision to withdraw antithrombotic therapy depends on the patient's thrombotic risk versus hemorrhagic risk. Assessment of both factors will show the precise management of anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy in these scenarios. The aim of this consensus document, coordinated by the Cardiovascular Thrombosis Working Group of the Spanish Society of Cardiology, and endorsed by most of the Spanish scientific societies of clinical specialities that may play a role in the patient-health care process during the perioperative or periprocedural period, is to recommend some simple and practical guidelines with a view to homogenizing daily clinical practice.
Subject(s)
Anticoagulants/therapeutic use , Fibrinolytic Agents/therapeutic use , Hemorrhage/etiology , Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Thromboembolism/etiology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Drug Substitution , Female , Hemorrhage/prevention & control , Humans , Intraoperative Care/methods , Male , Preoperative Care/methods , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , Thromboembolism/prevention & controlABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Economic evaluations are becoming increasingly important due to limitations in economic resources, the expense of many new treatments, the need to allocate health spending as effectively as possible, and the need to inform decision makers. Based on the data from the apixaban studies (ARISTOTLE and AVERROES), several economic evaluations have been performed in various countries to demonstrate the efficacy of apixaban versus warfarin and aspirin or other new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) for preventing stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).The aim of this study was to perform a systematic literature review of published economic evaluations with apixaban in the indication of stroke prevention in patients with NVAF. METHODS: A search in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Index Medicus Español was conducted in June 2015. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were established. The main characteristics were recorded for all relevant articles after being reviewed. In addition, a weighted version of the Drummond's checklist was used to further assess the quality of the selected studies. RESULTS: After review, 26 cost-effectiveness analyses through Markov models were included; the identified economic evaluations represent different willingness-to-pay (WTP) thresholds, discount rates, medical costs, and healthcare systems. Apixaban was compared with warfarin/acenocoumarol in 7 of them (27%), with warfarin/NOACs in 14 (54%), with aspirin in 2 (8%), and with warfarin/aspirin in 3 (11%). Models were conducted from Europe (69%), USA (23%), Australia (4%), and Latin America (4%). All models reported cost/quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained, 92% reported using a payer perspective, and 8% using a societal perspective; the median quality score of the selected studies was 89 (out of 119), with a range of 55-103. In models performed in Europe, incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of apixaban versus warfarin ranged from 5607/QALY to 57,245/QALY, while ICERs versus aspirin ranged from being dominant to 7334/QALY. In models carried out in the USA, ICERs of apixaban versus warfarin ranged from being dominant to $93,063/QALY. CONCLUSION: Different cost-effectiveness analyses suggest that apixaban is a cost-effective therapeutic option according to the WTP thresholds used in countries where cost-effectiveness analyses, were performed. FUNDING: BMS and Pfizer.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are still largely employed, even in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Our aim was to study the clinical profile of octogenarians treated with oral anticoagulation and to study the effect of age on the quality of VKAs anticoagulation. METHODS: Data are from a prospective national registry in an adult Spanish population of nonvalvular AF. We included 1637 patients who had been receiving VKAs for at least 6months before enrolment. RESULTS: Mean age was 73.8±9.4years. Patients aged >80years (N=429) had a high risk profile with higher risk of stroke and bleeding than younger patients; CHA2DS2-VASc (Cardiac failure, Hypertension, Age>74, Diabetes, Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65-74years, and Sex category) 4.5±1.3 vs. 3.5±1.6, p<0.001, HAS-BLED (Hypertension, Abnormal renal/liver function, Stroke, Bleeding history or predisposition, Labile international normalized ratio, Elderly (>64years), Drugs/alcohol concomitantly) 2.4±0.9 vs. 1.9±1.1, p<0.001. Creatinine clearance was lower in octogenarians than in younger patients (54.3±16.1ml/min vs. 69.5±23.7ml/min, p<0.001) and severe renal disease with creatinine clearance <30ml/min was more frequent in octogenarians (5.2% vs. 2.2%, p<0.001). In patients treated with VKAs (N=1637), the international normalized ratio values of the 6months previous to enrollment were similar in all age quartiles, as was the time in the therapeutic range. CONCLUSION: In this large registry octogenarians with nonvalvular AF had high risk of stroke and bleeding and frequent renal disease. VKAs anticoagulation quality was similar in octogenarians and in younger patients.
Subject(s)
Anticoagulants/administration & dosage , Atrial Fibrillation/drug therapy , Registries , Risk Assessment , Stroke/prevention & control , Administration, Oral , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Atrial Fibrillation/complications , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Incidence , Male , Prospective Studies , Risk Factors , Spain/epidemiology , Stroke/epidemiology , Stroke/etiology , Survival Rate/trends , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events. Many patients with AF receive chronic anticoagulation, either with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) or with non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs). We sought to analyze variables associated with prescription of NOAC. METHODS: Patients with AF under anticoagulation treatment were prospectively recruited in this observational registry. The sample comprised 1290 patients under chronic anticoagulation for AF, 994 received VKA (77.1%) and 296 NOAC (22.9%). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify variables associated with use of NOAC. RESULTS: Mean age was 73.8 ± 9.4 years, and 42.5% of the patients were women. The CHA2DS2-VASc score was 0 in 4.9% of the population, 1 in 24.1%, and ≥2 in 71% (median = 4, interquartile range = 2). Variables associated with NOAC treatment were major bleeding (odds ratio [OR] = 3.36; confidence interval [CI] 95%: 1.73-6.51; P < .001), hemorrhagic stroke (OR = 3.19; CI 95% 1.00-10.15, P = .049), university education (OR = 2.44; CI 95%: 1.55-3.84; P < .001), high diastolic blood pressure (OR = 1.02; CI 95%: 1.00-1.03; P = .006), and higher glomerular filtration rate (OR 1.01, CI 95% 1.00-1.01; P = .01). And variables associated with VKA use were history of cancer (OR = 0.46; CI 95%: 0.25-0.85; P = .013) and bradyarrhythmia (OR = 0.40; CI 95% 0.19-0.85; P = .020). CONCLUSION: Medical and social variables were associated with prescription of NOAC. Major bleeding, hemorrhagic stroke, university education, and higher glomerular filtration rate were more frequent among patients under NOAC. On the contrary, patients with history of cancer or bradyarrhythmias more frequently received VKA.
Subject(s)
Anticoagulants/administration & dosage , Atrial Fibrillation/drug therapy , Clinical Decision-Making , Fibrinolytic Agents/administration & dosage , Hemorrhage/chemically induced , Vitamin K/antagonists & inhibitors , Administration, Oral , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Anticoagulants/adverse effects , Atrial Fibrillation/diagnosis , Atrial Fibrillation/epidemiology , Female , Fibrinolytic Agents/adverse effects , Hemorrhage/diagnosis , Hemorrhage/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) have a narrow therapeutic range, and literature analysis reveals poor quality of anticoagulation control. We sought to assess the prevalence of poor anticoagulant control in patients under VKA treatment in the prevention of stroke for atrial fibrillation (AF). HYPOTHESIS: Control of anticoagulation with VKA is inadequate in a high percentage of patients with AF. METHODS: Patients with AF under VKA treatment were prospectively recruited in this observational registry. The sample comprised 948 patients. The estimated time spent in the therapeutic range (TTR) was calculated, and variables related with a TTR >65% were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean age was 73.8 ± 9.4 years, and 42.5% of the patients were women. Mean TTR was 63.77% ± 23.80% for the direct method and 60.27% ± 24.48% for the Rosendaal method. Prevalence of poor anticoagulation control was 54%. Variables associated with good anticoagulation control were university studies (odds ratio [OR]: 1.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-3.64), chronic hepatic disease (OR: 8.15, 95% CI: 1.57-42.24), low comorbidity expressed as Charlson index (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.76-0.99), no previous cardiac disease (OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.41-0.98), lower risk of bleeding assessed as hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function, stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratio, elderly age, and use of drugs or alcohol (HAS-BLED; OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.69-0.95), and lower heart rate (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who receive VKA to prevent stroke for AF spend less than half the time within therapeutic range.
Subject(s)
Anticoagulants/therapeutic use , Quality of Health Care , Vitamin K/antagonists & inhibitors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Atrial Fibrillation/complications , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Registries , Stroke/prevention & controlABSTRACT
La pandemia producida por la infección del nuevo coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, que da lugar a una enfermedad altamente contagiosa (COVID-19), ha producido un colapso de los sistemas sanitarios de todo el mundo. Se ha descrito que estos pacientes sufren un estado inflamatorio que condiciona un alto riesgo trombótico. Sin embargo, apenas hay información sobre cómo abordar el riesgo trombótico, la coagulopatía y el tratamiento anticoagulante de estos pacientes. Por otra parte, incluso los pacientes no infectados por COVID-19 sufren una tremenda influencia en su abordaje habitual por la situación sanitaria actual. El objetivo del presente documento, elaborado por el Grupo de Trabajo de Trombosis Cardiovascular de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología, es presentar la información disponible y dar unas pautas sencillas de tratamiento con fármacos antitrombóticos
The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which gives rise to the highly contagious COVID-19 disease, has caused a pandemic that is overwhelming health care systems worldwide. Affected patients have been reported to have a heightened inflammatory state that increases their thrombotic risk. However, there is very scarce information on the management of thrombotic risk, coagulation disorders, and anticoagulant therapy. In addition, the situation has also greatly influenced usual care in patients not infected with COVID-19. This article by the Working Group on Cardiovascular Thrombosis of the Spanish Society of Cardiology aims to summarize the available information and to provide a practical approach to the management of antithrombotic therapy
Subject(s)
Humans , Fibrinolytic Agents/administration & dosage , Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy , Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus/pathogenicity , Thrombosis/drug therapy , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/drug therapy , Venous Thromboembolism/drug therapy , Blood Coagulation Disorders/drug therapy , Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Thrombosis/prevention & control , Anticoagulants/administration & dosage , Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight/administration & dosage , Vitamin K/antagonists & inhibitors , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy , Blood Coagulation Disorders/physiopathology , Drug InteractionsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical characteristics and inter-hospital variability in the treatment and prognosis of patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Data from the PEPA study, a prospective registry that enrolled 4,115 patients in 18 Spanish hospitals, were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients enrolled was 65 years, 33% were women, and 26% had diabetes. Large differences were observed in the clinical profile of patients admitted to different centers, especially relative the history of previous disease, prior coronary revascularization, and co-morbidity. Antiplatelet treatment was used in 93% of patients, heparin in 45%, beta-blockers in 42%, nitrates in 67%, and calcium antagonists in 46%. During hospitalization, exercise stress testing was performed in 37% of patients, coronary angiography in 32%, coronary angioplasty in 9%, and coronary surgery in 4%. Inter-hospital variability was minimal for the use of antiplatelet agents, wide for the use of heparin and beta-blockers, and huge for the use of revascularization procedures. Mortality and the incidence of death or myocardial infarction were 2.6% and 4.4% during hospitalization, and 4.6% and 8% at 3 months, with wide inter-hospital variability. These differences were not significant once adjusted for clinical characteristics and the treatment received at admission. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes represent an heterogeneous group with a high incidence of complications. Pharmacologic and, especially, invasive treatment varies widely in different hospitals. These results underline the importance of correct initial risk stratification and uniform treatment following the recommendations of clinical guidelines.
Subject(s)
Myocardial Ischemia/diagnosis , Myocardial Ischemia/therapy , Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use , Aged , Calcium Channel Blockers/therapeutic use , Coronary Angiography , Electrocardiography , Exercise Test , Female , Heparin/therapeutic use , Humans , Male , Myocardial Ischemia/mortality , Nitrates/therapeutic use , Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Prognosis , Prospective Studies , RegistriesABSTRACT
En los últimos años, el número de pacientes anticoagulados y antiagregados está aumentando significativamente. Al ser un tratamiento crónico, es de esperar que a lo largo de su vida necesiten un procedimiento quirúrgico o intervencionista que pueda requerir la interrupción del fármaco antitrombótico. La decisión de retirar o mantener dicho tratamiento estará determinada, por un lado, por el riesgo trombótico y, por otro, por el hemorrágico. De la interacción entre estos 2 factores dependerá la actitud ante la anticoagulación y la antiagregación. El objetivo de este documento de consenso, coordinado desde el Grupo de Trabajo de Trombosis Cardiovascular de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología y certificado por un amplio número de sociedades científicas que participan en el proceso asistencial del paciente durante el periodo perioperatorio o periprocedimiento, consiste en proponer una serie de recomendaciones prácticas y sencillas con el fin de homogeneizar la práctica clínica diaria
During the last few years, the number of patients receiving anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy has increased worldwide. Since this is a chronic treatment, patients receiving it can be expected to need some kind of surgery or intervention during their lifetime that may require treatment discontinuation. The decision to withdraw antithrombotic therapy depends on the patient's thrombotic risk versus hemorrhagic risk. Assessment of both factors will show the precise management of anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy in these scenarios. The aim of this consensus document, coordinated by the Cardiovascular Thrombosis Working Group of the Spanish Society of Cardiology, and endorsed by most of the Spanish scientific societies of clinical specialities that may play a role in the patient-health care process during the perioperative or periprocedural period, is to recommend some simple and practical guidelines with a view to homogenizing daily clinical practice