Study of the current use profile and security of oral anticoagulants in community pharmacy patients

Introduction: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have shown to be a safer, more effective, and convenient treatment option, but significantly more expensive than vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). The aim of this study was to analyze the current use profile and safety of oral anticoagulants in patients from Community Pharmacy. Method: An observational cross-sectional study was performed on patients from 3 pharmacies in the Comunidad Autonoma de Andalucia. A questionnaire was developed, including several sociodemographic variables, data related to the volunteers' treatment, the subjects' knowledge about their treatment and the treatment safety. Results: The study included both men and women in the same proportion (49 vs 51%), being more than the 50% of them older than 70. Most patients were on DOACs treatment (80%). However, when data were analyzed separately by indications, a higher percentage of patients on DOACs was detected for the treatment of non -valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF; 92%), but the percentage was lower in patients with valve prostheses (40%). The incidence of adverse effects was lower in patients treated with DOACs. Although 89% of patients claimed to have received information about their treatment, only 13% of the subjects received this information from the pharmacist. Conclusions: This study shows a shift in the prescription profile of OACs in favor of OACs, accounting for an improvement in the safety and convenience of anticoagulated patients and, consequently, in their quality of life.