Abstract
BackgroundKnowledge about oral anticoagulant treatment can impact treatment outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, evidence is scarce regarding the knowledge of oral anticoagulants among Saudi patients with atrial fibrillation. Hence, this study aimed to assess the level of anticoagulation knowledge among patients with atrial fibrillation taking oral anticoagulants.MethodologyA survey using a cross-sectional study design was conducted among patients with a confirmed diagnosis of atrial fibrillation in a tertiary care setting. The Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge Tool (AKT), a 33-item, self-administered questionnaire, was used to assess the knowledge of anticoagulation.ResultsA total of 290 patients with a median age of 67 years participated in the survey. More than half of those surveyed (56.2%) were females. Overall, 195 (67.2%) patients had an overall adequate anticoagulation knowledge. The median knowledge score of participants on warfarin was significantly higher than those on direct-acting oral anticoagulants (p < 0.001). Only age was found to be a predictor of AKT. Increasing age was associated with fewer odds of adequate AKT. For every one-year increase in age, the knowledge score decreased by 0.08 (95% confidence interval: -0.13 to -0.04).ConclusionsThis study found significant knowledge gaps among Saudi patients with atrial fibrillation taking oral anticoagulants. Advancing age was inversely associated with oral anticoagulation knowledge.
Highlights
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia in medical practice [1]
This study found significant knowledge gaps among Saudi patients with atrial fibrillation taking oral anticoagulants
Advancing age was inversely associated with oral anticoagulation knowledge
Summary
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia in medical practice [1]. Patients with atrial fibrillation have a five times greater risk of developing ischemic stroke [2]. The use of oral anticoagulants is common due to their use in numerous indications, ranging from atrial fibrillation to mechanical heart valves [3,4]. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation remains unknown in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA); the findings of the first registry study of Saudi patients with atrial fibrillation revealed a higher use of oral anticoagulants (75%) [8]. The use of oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation ranges from 32% to 64% [9]. Knowledge about oral anticoagulant treatment can impact treatment outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation. Evidence is scarce regarding the knowledge of oral anticoagulants among Saudi patients with atrial fibrillation. This study aimed to assess the level of anticoagulation knowledge among patients with atrial fibrillation taking oral anticoagulants
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