Key result
Anticoagulant consumption increases up to ~4-fold in several European countries, driven by NOAC growth.
Why the study?
Increasing trends in anticoagulant consumption were expected due to the growing incidence of thromboembolic disease and atrial fibrillation, prompting an analysis across Central and Eastern European countries.
Observational
Yes
Anticoagulant consumption, particularly of NOACs, significantly increased across Central and Eastern European countries from 2007 to 2019, reflecting a shift away from vitamin K antagonists.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
NOAC-driven anticoagulant growth in CEE was associated with practice shifts; leaves open outcome and adherence impacts.
INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Due to the growing incidence of thromboembolic disease and atrial fibrillation, increasing trends in anticoagulants consumption can be expected. The aim of this study was to analyse the consumption of anticoagulants in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia between 2007 and 2019. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of anticoagulants comprising B01AA, B01AB, B01AE, B01AF and B01AX was performed using ATC/DDD methodology. The analysis was initiated in the year before the launch of the first non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant (NOAC). The consumption of each drug was assessed based on annual data and was expressed as DDD per 1,000 population per day (DDD/TID). RESULTS: The overall rates of anticoagulant consumption increased in all countries. Specifically, doubled in the Czech Republic, Croatia, and Slovakia, more than tripled in Hungary and more than quadrupled in Romania. Parenteral anticoagulant consumption remained stable or decreased, while the proportion of oral anticoagulants increased from an average of 61.41% in 2009 to 66.95% in 2019. The use of vitamin K antagonists declined, with the highest rate in the Czech Republic (11.16 DDD/TID in 2019). NOAC consumption showed substantial growth: from 0.002 to 8.33 DDD/TID in the Czech Republic, 0.001 to 6.73 in Croatia, 0.009 to 8.31 in Hungary, 0.0005 to 5.40 in Romania, and 0.03 to 10.77 in Slovakia. By 2019, rivaroxaban was the most commonly used NOAC in all countries, apart from Romania. CONCLUSION: The study showed an overall increase in the anticoagulant consumption. However, specific characteristics of individual countries need to be further analysed to better understand the different factors influencing utilization patterns.
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Malá‐Ládová et al. (2025) conducted an observational in Anticoagulant consumption. Anticoagulants was evaluated on Overall rates of anticoagulant consumption. Overall anticoagulant consumption increased between 2007 and 2019, doubling in the Czech Republic, Croatia, and Slovakia, tripling in Hungary, and quadrupling in Romania, driven by NOAC growth.
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