Title:Perception of Patients Regarding Burdens and Benefits of Vitamin K Antagonists Among Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation
VOLUME: 16 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Carlos Escobar*, Vivencio Barrios, Luis Prieto, Jose María Lobos, Jose Polo and Diego Vargas
Affiliation:Cardiology Department, University Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Cardiology Department, University Hospital Ramon y Cajal, Madrid, Medical Biostatistics, Universidad Catolica San Antonio de Murcia, Murcia, Jazmin Primary Care Health Center, East Area Primary Care, Madrid, Primary Care Health Center Casar de Caceres, Caceres, High Resolution Hospitalization Unit, Hospital el Toyo, Hospital de Poniente El Ejido, Almeria
Keywords:Anti-Clot-Treatment Scale (ACTS), atrial fibrillation, benefit, burden, quality of life, vitamin K antagonists.
Abstract:Background: Achieving a good satisfaction with anticoagulant treatment should be a target
in Atrial Fibrillation (AF) patients.
Objective: To ascertain the perception of patients regarding burdens and benefits of anticoagulation
with Vitamin K Antagonists (VKA).
Methods: This was a multicenter cross-sectional/retrospective study conducted throughout Spain, in
which AF patients taking VKA during the last year, attended at primary care setting were included. The
Anti-Clot-Treatment Scale (ACTS) was used to determine perceived burdens and benefits with anticoagulation.
Results: Overall, 1,386 patients (mean age 77.4 ± 8.7 years; 48.6% women; 64.2% permanent AF;
CHA2DS2-VASc 3.9 ± 1.5; HAS-BLED 1.6 ± 0.9) were analyzed. The adequate anticoagulation control
was achieved by 56.9/60.6% of patients according to direct method/Rosendaal method, respectively.
Overall, mean ACTS Burdens scale score was 49.4 ± 8.8 and mean ACTS Benefits scale score 11.2 ±
2.2. Active patients, polymedication, elderly and visits to the nurse were associated with higher scores
in the ACTS Burdens scale (lower perceived burden), whereas visits to the emergency department and
primary care physician were associated with lower scores in the ACTS Burdens scale (higher perceived
burden). Active patients, number of INR determinations, visits to the nurse, and an adequate INR control
were associated with higher scores in the ACTS Benefits scale (higher perceived benefit), whereas
visits to the emergency department and to the primary care physician were associated with lower scores
in the ACTS Benefits scale (lower perceived benefit).
Conclusion: Satisfaction with treatment was high among patients with AF chronically anticoagulated
with VKA, suggesting that quality of life is not impaired in this population.
