Higher OAK (Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge) score at baseline associated with better TTR (Time in Therapeutic Range) in patients taking warfarin.

A lack in patient knowledge of warfarin therapy is associated with poor adherence. This knowledge gap may result in a lower INR Time in Therapeutic Range (TTR). To investigate association between patient anticoagulation knowledge and warfarin control. Michigan Anticoagulation Quality Improvement Initiative (MAQI2) is a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan sponsored consortium of six anticoagulation management services. Patients prescribed warfarin at two MAQI2 sites completed a voluntary Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge (OAK) questionnaire at warfarin initiation and 6-month follow-up. The results of 20 OAK questions and TTRs (excluding 1st month post-initiation) were compared using chi-square tests, t-tests and multivariate analysis adjusting for SAMe-TT2R2 and days on warfarin. Of 1836 surveys distributed at warfarin initiation, 481 (26.2%) patients completed the baseline questionnaire (within 1 month post-initiation): mean OAK score: 14.6 ± 3.4. Of those, 147 (30.6%) completed 6-month follow-up surveys (OAK: 12.7 ± 5.8). Patients with TTR ≥ 70% at baseline scored higher on OAK tests than patients with TTR < 70% in unadjusted analyses (15.1 ± 3.2 v. 14.2 ± 3.5, p = 0.003) and adjusted analysis (p = 0.020). There was no unadjusted or adjusted difference in OAK scores at 6-month follow-up between patients with TTR ≥ 70% and TTR < 70%. For patients who completed baseline and follow-up surveys, there was a decrease of 2.4 points in OAK score between baseline and 6-month follow up (p < 0.001). Higher baseline, but not follow-up, OAK score is associated with better warfarin control and average OAK scores decreased between baseline and follow-up. Further studies are needed to determine what type of patient education may improve patient knowledge retention and warfarin control.

Anticoagulation Changes Following Major and Clinically Relevant Nonmajor Bleeding Events in Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients.

Background: Bleeding events are common complications of oral anticoagulant drugs, including both warfarin and the direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Some patients have their anticoagulant changed or discontinued after experiencing a bleeding event, while others continue the same treatment. Differences in anticoagulation management between warfarin- and DOAC-treated patients following a bleeding event are unknown. Methods: Patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation from six anticoagulation clinics taking warfarin or DOAC therapy who experienced an International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)-defined major or clinically relevant non-major (CRNM) bleeding event were identified between 2016 and 2020. The primary outcome was management of the anticoagulant following bleeding (discontinuation, change in drug class, and restarting of same drug class). DOAC- and warfarin-treated patients were propensity matched based on the individual elements of the CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores as well as the severity of the bleeding event. Results: Of the 509 patients on warfarin therapy and 246 on DOAC therapy who experienced a major or CRNM bleeding event, the majority of patients continued anticoagulation therapy. The majority of warfarin (231, 62.6%) and DOAC patients (201, 81.7%) restarted their previous anticoagulation. Conclusion: Following a bleeding event, most patients restarted anticoagulation therapy, most often with the same type of anticoagulant that they previously had been taking.

Reduction in epistaxis and emergency department visits in patients taking warfarin after implementation of an education program.

BACKGROUND: Anticoagulated patients are often seen unnecessarily in the emergency department (ED) for epistaxis, leading to increased healthcare costs. Patients are often unaware of preventative and management techniques for handling epistaxis in the home. METHODS: In 2016, the Michigan Anticoagulation Quality Improvement Initiative (MAQI2), a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan-sponsored consortium of 6 anticoagulation clinics in Michigan, implemented an epistaxis-management educational program for warfarin-treated patients with the goal of reducing unnecessary ED visits. A pre-implementation cohort (2014-2015) consisted of patients who did not receive epistaxis-related educational materials. A post-implementation cohort (2017-2018) received epistaxis educational materials covering home treatment and prevention strategies. Patient characteristics and outcomes (rates of epistaxis and epistaxis ED visits) were compared using Chi-square, Poisson regression, and t-tests. RESULTS: Of the 4473 patients included, 2634 (58.9%) initiated warfarin in the pre-implementation phase and 1839 (41.1%) initiated warfarin in the post-implementation phase. The post-implementation cohort had a lower overall epistaxis rate (13.4 vs 10.4 per 100 patient-year, pre- vs. post-implementation; p = 0.029), a lower epistaxis-related ED visit rate (5.6 vs. 3.1 per 100 patient-year; p = 0.003), and a lower proportion of nosebleeds that led to an ED visit (42% vs. 30%; p = 0.032). After controlling for antiplatelet use, renal disease, and time in therapeutic range, both cohorts were equally likely to have nosebleeds (RR 0.77, 95% CI: 0.58-1.02); however, the post-implementation cohort was less likely to visit the ED for epistaxis (RR 0.52, 95% CI: 0.32-0.84). CONCLUSION: An epistaxis education program was associated with a reduction in epistaxis-related ED visits among warfarin-treated patients.