Adherence to recommendations of the Therapeutic Positioning Report about treatment with oral anticoagulants in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation. The ESPARTA study

Profile of patients with atrial fibrillation treated in internal medicine departments in spain. SUMAMOS-FA-SEMI registry

AIM

To update the profile of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who are treated in internal medicine wards according to characteristics implicit in elderly patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Multicenter national registry with one-year follow-up that includes adult patients diagnosed with AF. The sample is divided into three groups based on comorbidity and dependency (group 1, functional patients with little comorbidity; group 2, partially dependent patients with comorbidity; group 3, dependent patients with comorbidity) and their characteristics are described, differentiating between inpatients and outpatients.

RESULTS

1215 subjects were analyzed (mean age 81.5 ± 8.7, with 52.1% women). An increase in comorbidities associated with AF is observed compared to previous analyses in the same setting. There is a high rate of frailty (44.4%), and risk of malnutrition (52.9%) with significant differences between the established groups. An increase in baseline anticoagulant therapy was observed with fewer individuals treated in group 3, and a greater use of direct anticoagulants (62.3%) than anti-vitamin K drugs (22.2%), especially in group 3.

DISCUSSION

The current profile of AF patients treated in internal medicine shows an aged but heterogeneous population with a higher rate of baseline anticoagulant therapy than in previous records with a greater use of direct anticoagulants, especially in the more comorbid and dependent population. We observed a high prevalence of frailty and malnutrition with differences between the established groups. This situation could have implications for establishing differentiated approaches.

Framing anticoagulation control according to clinical practice for patients with atrial fibrillation in Spain: a multidisciplinary vision trough AMFA Project

Introduction and objectives

The use of vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in Spain remains high, even though the available data on anticoagulation control (TRT, time in therapeutic range) shows suboptimal results. The objective of the AMFA project, an atlas of the management of anticoagulation in patients with AF, was to describe oral anticoagulation management in Spanish´ patients.

Materials and methods

The AMFA Project is a descriptive, multicenter study. It included information from 60 healthcare areas from each of the 17 Spanish regions. Consensus methodologies were used to analyze qualitative information obtained from the physicians' experience and perception and quantitative data collected through a specialized study questionnaire. In this questionnaire, experts were asked to include data of the last 10 consecutive patients attended with AF on anticoagulation treatment.

Results

Records from 1,580 patients were obtained from 176 experts. Of them, 34.7% were cardiologists, 32.9% general practitioners (GPs), and 32.4% hematologists. The utilization rates of Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) and VKAs in clinical practice was 55.8% and 43.3%, respectively, which was not correlated with experts' perception. Clinical practice data revealed that 30.3% of the patients included did not have international normalized ratio (INR) or TTR data available, while only 3.8% of the experts reported that INR/TTR information was not available according to their perception. Considering only patients who had INR and TTR available, clinical practice showed that 59.0% of the patients had their coagulation in range, while the remaining 41.0% were uncontrolled. This result matches with the general perception reported by the experts, 62.6% of patients in range. Additionally, up to 22.2% of patients received DOAC treatment at suboptimal doses.

Conclusions

These data highlight the suboptimal control of the INR of patients, as well as the difficulties in DOACs access in Spain. The study uncovers the need to implement actions to improve INR control, facilitate access to DOACs treatment, and standardize AF patients' management. Establishing protocols that facilitate intervention may optimize the management of the patients with AF.

Prevención del ictus en pacientes con fibrilación auricular. Mejorar la protección enla era de la COVID-19

La fibrilación auricular aumenta hasta en 5 veces el riesgo de ictus. Los ictus cardioembólicos habitualmente son más graves y tienen altas tasas de recurrencias y discapacidad permanente en comparación con los ictus de otras etiologías. En consecuencia, la reducción del riesgo de ictus mediante una adecuada anticoagulación es uno de los principales objetivos en el tratamiento de los pacientes con fibrilación auricular. Los antagonistas de la vitamina K han sido ampliamente superados por los anticoagulantes orales de acción directa, ya que tanto los resultados de los ensayos clínicos como los de los estudios de práctica clínica y, últimamente, estudios poblacionales han demostrado que los anticoagulantes orales de acción directa tienen mayores eficacia (menos ictus y muerte) y seguridad (menos hemorragias intracraneales) que los antagonistas de la vitamina K. Además, durante la pandemia de COVID-19, el empleo preferente de anticoagulantes orales de acción directa frente a los antagonistas de la vitamina K constituye una estrategia clave para garantizar una calidad óptima de la anticoagulación y una mejor protección del paciente contra el SARS-CoV-2, al no precisarse control de la razón internacional normalizada.

Mejorar la prevención de la trombosis y las complicaciones cardiovasculares durante la pandemia de COVID-19

Las complicaciones cardiovasculares son frecuentes en el paciente con la enfermedad coronavírica de 2019 (COVID-19), y se asocian con una mayor mortalidad. Entre las complicaciones cardiovasculares, destacan el síndrome coronario agudo, el daño miocárdico agudo (elevación de troponinas con coronarias normales), arritmias (principalmente fibrilación auricular y arritmias ventriculares), insuficiencia cardiaca, pericarditis/derrame pericárdico y complicaciones tromboembólicas (tromboembolia arterial y venosa, trombosis microvascular, embolia pulmonar, ictus). Por lo tanto, uno de los objetivos del tratamiento del paciente con COVID-19, sobre todo en sus formas más graves, es la prevención de las complicaciones cardiovasculares y trombóticas, lo que sin duda tendría un impacto positivo en el pronóstico de estos pacientes.

Fuera de este contexto, los resultados provenientes tanto de ensayos clínicos como de estudios en la práctica clínica muestran que el rivaroxabán es eficaz y seguro en todo el espectro de la enfermedad cardiovascular (fibrilación auricular, enfermedad tromboembólica venosa y enfermedad cardiovascular ateroesclerótica), por lo que podría aportar un valor añadido en la prevención de las complicaciones trombóticas y cardiovasculares durante la pandemia de COVID-19.

Long-Term Anticoagulation in Secondary Ischemic Stroke Prevention: The Prospective Multicenter RESTAIC Registry

Background and Objective: Oral anticoagulation (OAC) for secondary stroke prevention is recommended in atrial fibrillation (AF) and other sources of cardioembolic stroke. Our objectives were to explore the differences in ischemic and hemorrhagic events when using OAC for secondary stroke prevention according to the type of anticoagulant treatment and to analyze the number and reasons for OAC switches during long-term follow-up.

Methods: Ischemic stroke (IS) patients who were discharged on OAC for secondary stroke prevention from January 2014 to October 2017 were recruited in a prospective, multicenter, hospital-based registry. Follow-up at 3 months was scheduled at the outpatient clinic with subsequent annual phone interviews for 3 years. Patients were classified into three study groups according to OAC at discharge: Vitamin K antagonist (VKA), Factor Xa inhibitor (FXa), or direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI). We compared stroke recurrences, intracranial hemorrhage, major bleeding, and all-cause mortality during the follow-up. We recorded any switches in OAC and the main reasons for the change.

Results: A total of 241 patients were included. An anticoagulant was indicated in the presence of a source of cardioembolic stroke in 240 patients (99.6%) and lupus plus antiphospholipid syndrome in one patient. Up to 86 patients (35.6%) were on OAC before the index stroke; in 71 (82.5%) of them, this was VKA. At hospital discharge, 105 were treated with FXa (43.8%), 96 with VKA (39.6%), and 40 with DTI (16.6%). The cumulative incidences at 3 years were 17% for stroke recurrence, 1.6% for intracranial hemorrhage, 4.9% for major hemorrhage, and 22.8% for all-cause mortality, with no differences among the OAC groups in any outcomes. During the follow-up, 40 OAC switches were recorded (63% of them to FXa), mostly due to stroke recurrence.

Conclusion: Long-term OAC in secondary stroke prevention is associated with a lower frequency of bleeding complications than stroke recurrences. No differences between anticoagulant drugs were found in any of the analyzed outcomes. The main cause for OAC switch during follow-up was stroke recurrence.

Cost and burden of poor anticoagulation control with vitamin K antagonists in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in Spain

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the burden and cost of complications due to poor anticoagulation control in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in Spain.

METHODS

An analytical model was used to estimate annual differences in ischemic stroke, major bleeding, deaths, costs, and potential years of life lost between patients with poor anticoagulation control (time in therapeutic range <65%) and adequate control (time in therapeutic range ≥ 65%) with a 1-year time horizon. Information on the target population (patients ≥ 65 years), event rates, and costs were obtained from national sources. Direct costs in euros (2018) were included from the perspective of the national health system (NHS) and direct and indirect costs from the societal perspective. A sensitivity analysis was performed with post-hoc data from the SPORTIF III/V trials.

RESULTS

We analyzed a hypothetical cohort of 594 855 patients, 48.3% with poor anticoagulation control, with an increase of 2321 ischemic strokes, 2236 major bleeding events and 14 463 deaths, and an annual incremental cost between €29 578 306 from the NHS perspective and €75 737 451 from the societal perspective. The annual impact of mortality was 170 502 potential years of life lost. The results of the sensitivity analysis showed that the annual cost would reach €97 787 873 from the societal perspective.

CONCLUSIONS

Poor anticoagulation control with AVK has a strong impact on loss of health and on increased spending for the NHS.

[Therapeutic positioning reports: Experience in Spain during the period 2013-2019]

Objetivo

Describir las características de los informes de posicionamiento terapéutico (IPT) publicados en España en el periodo 2013-2019.

Diseño y fuente de datos

Revisión sistemática de todos los IPT publicados en la página web de la Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios (AEMPS).

Selección de estudios

Se incluyeron todos los IPT realizados desde mayo de 2013, hasta marzo de 2019.

Extracción de datos

Las principales variables recogidas fueron los grupos terapéuticos evaluados, el número de IPT, el tiempo de elaboración, la existencia de restricciones a las indicaciones autorizadas y la información sobre la eficiencia.

Resultados

En el periodo evaluado se realizaron 214 IPT, con un tiempo medio de elaboración de 8,8 meses, casi tres veces el objetivo de 3 meses planteado inicialmente. El 57% de los IPT establecieron restricciones de uso respecto a las indicaciones de sus fichas técnicas. El 26% de los IPT hicieron referencia a la existencia de datos económicos, aunque ninguno incluyó detalles sobre la eficiencia. Se actualizaron el 10% de los IPT.

Conclusiones

Para que los IPT puedan cumplir su objetivo de mejorar la eficiencia del proceso de evaluación y la coherencia en las decisiones sobre precio, reembolso y financiación de medicamentos por parte del SNS es preciso que se cumplan los plazos establecidos para su publicación, se incorpore sistemáticamente información sobre la eficiencia de los fármacos y se actualicen los informes con la nueva información generada.

The problem of underdosing with direct-acting oral anticoagulants in elderly patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation

Unless contraindicated, anticoagulant therapy should be prescribed to elderly patients with atrial fibrillation. Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are superior to vitamin K antagonists for preventing stroke. This, together with their higher net clinical benefit, makes DOACs the treatment of choice in this population. However, due to the concerns about bleeding and the need for dose adjustment based on clinical variables, underdosing of DOACs is common and the risk of stroke high. Drugs with more easily adjusted doses are likely associated with a lower risk of dosing errors and, therefore, a greater protective effect. Correct dosing can ensure a maximal net benefit of DOACs in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation.

Clinical profile and management of rivaroxaban in patients with atrial fibrillation in routine practice in Spain: data from six nationwide studies

AIMS

To analyze the clinical profile and management of patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation taking rivaroxaban in routine practice in Spain.

METHODS

Clinical data from the observational studies HEROIC (cardiology and hematology; n=1,727), EMIR (cardiology; n=1,493), BRONCE-AP (primary care; n=133), SILVER-AP (primary care; n=457), ALADIN (internal medicine and neurology; n=249), and ESPARTA (internal medicine; n=110) of patients taking rivaroxaban were analyzed. The clinical profile was compared with those of the XANTUS and ROCKET-AF studies.

RESULTS

Overall, mean age was 74.9±9.4 years, CHA₂DS₂-VASc score was 3.7±1.5, and 43.2% had a HAS-BLED score ≥3. Patients included in the HEROIC and EMIR studies were older and more frequently had a creatinine clearance <50 mL/min and a higher thromboembolic risk than those in the XANTUS study, and patients included in the ALADIN study were older and had more prior cerebrovascular disease, but a lower thromboembolic risk than those in the ROCKET-AF trial. In those studies with available data, medication adherence and satisfaction with rivaroxaban were high.

CONCLUSION

Bearing in mind differences according to the clinical setting of each study, atrial fibrillation patients taking rivaroxaban in Spain were elderly and had a high thromboembolic risk. Medication adherence and satisfaction with rivaroxaban were high.

Clinical characteristics and type of antithrombotic treatment in a Spanish cohort of elderly patients with atrial fibrillation according to dependency, frailty and cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND

Available data regarding clinical profile and management of elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) according to dependency, fragility and cognitive impairment are scarce. The objective of the study was to analyze the biodemographic data, clinical profile and antithrombotic treatment according to dependency, fragility and cognitive impairment in elderly AF patients.

METHODS

Cross-sectional and multi-center study performed in consecutive AF patients ≥ 75 years treated with oral anticoagulants ≥ 3 months attended in Internal Medicine Departments in Spain.

RESULTS

A total of 837 patients (83.0 ± 5.0 years; CHA2DS2-VASc: 5.0 ± 1.4; HAS-BLED: 2.1 ± 0.9) were included. 44.4% of patients had some degree of dependency, 43.3% were fragile, and 32.3% had cognitive impairment. Patients with any of these conditions were older, had a worse clinical profile, with more comorbidities and higher risks of thromboembolic and bleeding events. All these conditions were independently associated among them. Overall, 70.8% of patients were taking vitamin K antagonists, the remaining 29.2% direct oral anticoagulants and 9.7% oral antiplatelets. This distribution was independent of the presence of dependency or fragility, but there was a trend to a higher prescription of vitamin K antagonists in those patients with cognitive impairment (75.2% vs. 68.8%; P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately 32%-44% of elderly anticoagulated AF patients attended have some degree of dependency, fragility and/or cognitive impairment. Patients with any of these conditions are older and have a worse clinical profile. Approximately 71% of patients are taking vitamin K antagonists, regardless dependency or frailty, but with a trend to higher prescription in patients with cognitive impairment.

Satisfaction with oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Although, by itself, atrial fibrillation is associated with an impairment of quality of life antithrombotic therapy may play a role.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the satisfaction with anticoagulant treatment in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who attended internal medicine departments in Spain.

METHODS

Patients from two different cross-sectional studies were combined. To measure the satisfaction with anticoagulant treatment, the Anti-Clot-Treatment Scale (ACTS) questionnaire was completed by every patient. A multivariate analysis was performed to determine the variables associated with satisfaction of patients receiving oral anticoagulants.

RESULTS

A total of 1,309 patients (mean age 78.5±8.4 years; 49.3% men; CHA2DS2VASC 4.9±1.5; HAS-BLED 2.0±0.9) were included in the study, of whom 902 (68.9%) were taking vitamin K antagonists (VKA) and 407 (31.1%) direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Overall, satisfaction with oral anticoagulation was high (ACTS Burdens scale 49.69±9.45; ACTS Benefits scale 11.35±2.61). The perceived burdens with anticoagulant treatment were lower in men, as well as in patients with no dependency, normal renal function, who were not polymedicated, or who had moderate bleeding risk. Among patients taking VKA, those subjects with a lower number of International Normalized Ratio (INR) determinations in the last 6 months or with an optimal time in the therapeutic range exhibited a lower perceived burden. Patients taking DOACs (vs VKA) showed a lower perceived burden with anticoagulation. Benefits with anti-coagulation were higher in men, younger patients, those with no dependency, or low bleeding risk. Perceived benefits were higher in patients taking DOACs (vs VKA).

CONCLUSION

Satisfaction with oral anticoagulation was high in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, who were attending internal medicine departments daily in Spain. Among patients taking VKA, those subjects with a lower number of INR determinations in the last 6 months or with an optimal time in the therapeutic range exhibited a lower perceived burden with anticoagulant therapy. Patients taking DOACs (vs VKA) showed lower perceived burdens and higher perceived benefits with anticoagulation.