Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to evaluate the pattern of anticoagulation after venous thromboembolism (VTE) in actual clinical practice.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study used the General Practice Research Database. Individuals aged 18+ years with VTE were matched to 3 controls.
RESULTS: Of the 46 335 patients with VTE and 138 024 controls, 70.2% of cases and 86.6% of controls had no obvious risk factors. The mortality risk was increased substantially around the time of diagnosis (relative hazard rate [RR] around 21) but remained elevated for a further 4 years (RRs around 1.5-2.0). The mean percentage of time spent within the therapeutic range for international normalized ratio (INR) was 57.0%. The lowest rate of VTE recurrence occurred in patients with ≥70% time spent within therapeutic range (RR of 0.50, 95% CI 0.39-0.63 compared to <30%).
CONCLUSIONS: Higher time spent within therapeutic INR range was associated with lower risks of VTE recurrence and death due to VTE.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 370-8 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2012 |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Anticoagulants
- Databases, Factual
- Female
- Great Britain
- Humans
- Incidence
- International Normalized Ratio
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Risk Factors
- Thromboembolism