Key result
A pharmacist-led initiative transitioned 66 eligible patients from warfarin to a direct oral anticoagulant, with 89.4% of these patients remaining on the new therapy after one year.
Why the study?
The impact of a pharmacist-led warfarin to DOAC conversion initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic needed to be assessed.
Observational (n=530)
No
A pharmacist-led initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic successfully transitioned eligible warfarin patients to DOACs with an 89.4% persistence rate at one year, highlighting the value of clinical pharmacists in medication management despite cost barriers.
May support pharmacist-led DOAC transitions amid disruptions; leaves open generalizability and outcome impact without RCTs.
Purpose: To assess the impact of a pharmacist-led warfarin to DOAC conversion initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Patients who were prescribed warfarin and followed with the anticoagulation clinic for INR monitoring were assessed by outpatient clinical pharmacists as potential candidates for transition to DOACs from March-August 2020. Results: 530 patients were assessed for transition to DOACs, of which 373 (70.4%) were deemed by clinical pharmacists to be candidates for DOACs. Of the patients who were candidates for DOACs, 66 (17.7%) were transitioned from warfarin to a DOAC. Of the patients who transitioned to a DOAC, 59 (89.4%) remained on a DOAC after one year. Conclusion: Outpatient clinical pharmacists are an effective resource to help identify patients who are candidates for DOACs and assist with transition from warfarin. Further, high persistence rates with DOAC therapy after one year demonstrate the positive impact of the clinical pharmacist on medication adherence.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Mews et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Patients prescribed warfarin requiring INR monitoring (n=530). Pharmacist-led warfarin to DOAC conversion initiative was evaluated on Persistence on DOAC therapy after one year. A pharmacist-led initiative transitioned 66 eligible patients from warfarin to a direct oral anticoagulant, with 89.4% of these patients remaining on the new therapy after one year.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: