Abstract
Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyze the prescription patterns of oral anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy in an elderly population in rehabilitation hospitals. Methods: 200 patients, after undergoing knee/hip surgery or after a stroke, were evaluated over a time span of one year. Results: All patients necessitated anticoagulation; the average number of medications taken was 8. The most frequent combination was the new oral anticoagulation with antiplatelet agents. 35% of the patients on this combination therapy did not receive proton pump inhibitors. Conclusion: The increased use of the new oral anticoagulation medicine increases the frequency of dual therapy. Careful and repetitive investigation of indications, benefits and negative side-effects should be considered in order to reduce complications.
Highlights
Anticoagulant prophylaxis and therapy has become an established cornerstone in clinical medicine and prevents thromboembolism resulting from reduced mobility due to various diseases (American College of Chest Physicians Guidelines 2012) [1]
The prevention of venous thromboembolism after total hip or knee arthroplasty by using New oral anticoagulants (NOAC) was improved as compared to low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) [3]
Prophylactic NOAC was expectedly prescribed in the arthroplasty sample only, but not for the stroke patients, where the use of Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) was more frequent (18/49=37%)
Summary
Anticoagulant prophylaxis and therapy has become an established cornerstone in clinical medicine and prevents thromboembolism resulting from reduced mobility due to various diseases (American College of Chest Physicians Guidelines 2012) [1]. Antiplatelet agents (APA) are established for the secondary prevention of recurrent strokes or heart attacks. New oral anticoagulants (NOAC) have been introduced, and a solid knowledge regarding their use and their limitations is presupposed [2]. The prevention of venous thromboembolism after total hip or knee arthroplasty by using NOACs was improved as compared to LMWH [3]. The duration of hospitalization has been decreased, and fewer surgical complications were observed with rivaroxaban [4]. Consolidated knowledge about their use and limitations has gaps in prescribing providers [1]
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