Coordination of Oral Anticoagulant Care at Hospital Discharge baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | All participants (n=56) | Intervention (n=31) | Control (n=25) |
| Age (SD), years | 71.2 (12.5) | 72.1 (13.5) | 70.1 (11.3) |
| Female sex, n (%) | 24 (42.9%) | 13 (42.0%) | 11 (44.0%) |
| Rural residence, n (%) | 7 (12.5%) | 5 (16.1%) | 2 (8.0%) |
| Caregiver consent required, n (%) | 1 (1.9%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (4.4%) |
| Length of hospital stay (SD), day | 8.9 (7.8) | 9.4 (8.0) | 8.3 (7.7) |
| Income level, n (%)* | |||
| Less than $20 000 | 4 (7.1%) | 4 (12.9%) | 0 (0%) |
| $20 000–$34 999 | 7 (12.5%) | 4 (12.9%) | 3 (12%) |
| $35 000–$49 999 | 8 (14.3%) | 4 (12.9%) | 4 (16%) |
| $50 000–$74 999 | 9 (16.1%) | 2 (6.5%) | 7 (28%) |
| $75 000–$99 999 | 5 (8.9%) | 4 (12.9%) | 1 (4%) |
| Over $100 000 | 9 (16.1%) | 5 (16.1%) | 4 (16%) |
| Data not available | 14 (25%) | 8 (25.8%) | 6 (24%) |
| OAC prescribed at discharge, n (%) | |||
| Apixaban | 32 (57.1%) | 17 (54.8%) | 15 (60.0%) |
| Dabigatran | 1 (1.8%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (4.0%) |
| Edoxaban | 1 (1.8%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (4.0%) |
| Rivaroxaban | 13 (23.2%) | 9 (29.0%) | 4 (16.0%) |
| Warfarin | 9 (16.1%) | 5 (16.1%) | 4 (16.0%) |
| New OAC user | 18 (32.1%) | 9 (29.0%) | 9 (36.0%) |
| OAC indication†, n (%) | |||
| Atrial fibrillation/flutter | 35 (62.5%) | 18 (58.1%) | 17 (68.0%) |
| Joint replacement (VTE prevention) | 3 (5.4%) | 2 (6.5%) | 1 (4.0%) |
| VTE treatment | 3 (5.4%) | 2 (6.5%) | 1 (4.0%) |
| Valvular disease | 2 (3.6%) | 1 (3.2%) | 1 (4.0%) |
| Circle of care, n (%) | |||
| Family physician | 55 (98.2%) | 30 (96.8%) | 25 (100%) |
| Nurse practitioner | 1 (1.8%) | 1 (3.2%) | 0 (0%) |
| Specialists‡ | |||
| Haematology or thromboembolism | 12 (21.4%) | 11 (35.5%) | 1 (4.0%) |
| Internal medicine | 3 (5.4%) | 0 (0%) | 3 (12.0%) |
| Cardiology | 23 (41.1%) | 15 (48.4%) | 8 (32.0%) |
| Other specialists‡ | 18 (32.1%) | 12 (38.7%) | 6 (24.0%) |
| Medical history, n (%) | |||
| Thromboembolic disease | |||
| Ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack | 8 (14.3%) | 2 (6.5%) | 6 (24.0%) |
| Peripheral vascular disease | 2 (3.6%) | 1 (3.2%) | 1 (4.0%) |
| Peripheral arterial disease | 1 (1.8%) | 1 (3.2%) | 0 (0%) |
| Systemic embolism | 2 (3.6%) | 2 (6.5%) | 0 (0%) |
| Deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism | 10 (17.9%) | 4 (12.9%) | 6 (24.0%) |
| Myocardial infarction | 8 (14.3%) | 4 (12.9%) | 4 (16.0%) |
| Percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft | 11 (19.6%) | 5 (16.1%) | 6 (24.0%) |
| Major haemorrhagic events | |||
| Intracranial bleeding | 1 (1.8%) | 1 (3.2%) | 0 (0%) |
| Gastrointestinal bleeding | 6 (10.7%) | 5 (16.1%) | 1 (4.0%) |
| Other major bleed | 7 (12.5%) | 5 (16.1%) | 2 (8.0%) |
| Other comorbidities, n (%) | |||
| Congestive heart failure | 24 (42.9%) | 13 (41.9%) | 11 (44.0%) |
| Hypertension | 37 (66.1%) | 21 (67.7%) | 16 (64.0%) |
| Diabetes | 18 (32.1%) | 9 (29.0%) | 9 (36.0%) |
| Renal dysfunction§ | 13 (23.2%) | 8 (25.8%) | 5 (20.0%) |
| Liver dysfunction¶ | 5 (8.9%) | 4 (12.9%) | 1 (4.0%) |
| Active cancer | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| CHADS2 score (predicts thromboembolic risk) | |||
| Mean (SD) | 2.2 (1.6) | 2.1 (1.5) | 2.2 (1.7) |
| Median (IQR) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–4) |
| CHADS-VASc score (predicts thromboembolic risk) | |||
| Mean (SD) | 4.5 (2.7) | 4.7 (2.6) | 4.2 (2.9) |
| Median (IQR) | 4.0 (2.0–7.0) | 4.0 (3.0–7.0) | 4.0 (1.0–6.8) |
| HAS-BLED score (predicts bleeding risk) | |||
| Mean (SD) | 2.4±1.4 | 2.4±1.5 | 2.4±1.2 |
| Median (IQR) | 2.0 (1.5–3.0) | 2.0 (1.0–3.0) | 2.0 (2.0–3.0) |
| Polypharmacy | |||
| # Prescription medications at discharge (SD) | 9.1 (4.1) | 8.8 (4.4) | 9.6 (3.7) |
| Concomitant prescription medications, n (%) | |||
| Diuretics | 28 (50.0%) | 17 (54.8%) | 11 (44.0%) |
| Antiarrhythmics | 4 (7.1%) | 2 (6.5%) | 2 (8.0%) |
| Proton pump inhibitor | 28 (50.0%) | 15 (48.4%) | 13 (52.0%) |
| ACE inhibitors or angiotensin blockers | 28 (50.0%) | 14 (45.2%) | 14 (56.0%) |
| Statins or 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors | 36 (64.3%) | 17 (54.8%) | 19 (76.0%) |
| Beta-blocking agents | 27 (48.2%) | 13 (41.9%) | 14 (56.0%) |
| Calcium-channel blockers | 13 (23.2%) | 8 (25.8%) | 5 (20.0%) |
| Potentially interacting medications, n (%) | |||
| Systemic antibiotics | 9 (16.1%) | 5 (16.1%) | 4 (16.0%) |
| Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor | 8 (14.3%) | 3 (9.7%) | 5 (20.0%) |
| Systemic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs** | 10 (17.9%) | 8 (25.8%) | 2 (8.0%) |
| Acetylsalicylic acid** | 7 (12.5%) | 1 (3.2%) | 6 (24.0%) |
| Clopidogrel | 2 (3.6%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (8.0%) |
*Income level is unknown for 14 (25%) patients.
†More than one OAC indication may be reported per patient.
‡Other specialists includes urology, neurology, nephrology, orthopaedic surgery, rheumatology, respirology, ophthalmology, sports medicine and vascular surgery.
§Abnormal renal function defined as the presence of chronic dialysis, renal transplantation or serum creatinine ≥200 mmol/L.
¶Abnormal liver function defined as chronic hepatic disease (eg, cirrhosis) or bilirubin 2–3 times the upper limit of normal with aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase/alkaline phosphatase at least three times the upper limit normal, etc.
**Includes both over-the-counter and prescription use.
OAC, oral anticoagulants; VTE, venous thromboembolism.