Management of combined oral antithrombotic therapy by an antithrombotic stewardship program: A prospective study

AIMS: Antithrombotic management initiatives could prevent inappropriate prescribing and improve patient outcomes especially in patients on combined antithrombotic therapy. To investigate this, a multidisciplinary antithrombotic stewardship program (ASP) was implemented in our hospital. The primary aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of this ASP by assessing the number of patients on combined antithrombotic therapy for whom one or more interventions were needed. METHODS: A prospective cohort study in a large teaching hospital was conducted. Hospitalized patients were included who received combined antithrombotic therapy in which an oral anticoagulant was combined with one (double therapy) or two (triple therapy) platelet aggregation inhibitors. The ASP proactively evaluated the appropriateness of this combined antithrombotic therapy. If needed, ASP improved the concerned therapy. Each improvement measurement recommended by the ASP was counted as one intervention. RESULTS: A total of 460 patients were included over a period of 12 months. Of these, 251 (54.6%) patients required at least one intervention from the ASP. The most common interventions were: (1) to define and document the maximum duration of the combined antithrombotic therapy needed instead of lifetime use of the combination (65.5%), (2) to discontinue antithrombotic therapy as the proper indication was lacking (19.4%), and (3) to adjust the dosage (8.1%). CONCLUSION: An intervention was needed in more than half of the patients on combined antithrombotic therapy. Implementation of a dedicated ASP evaluating combined antithrombotic therapy improves the use and safety of antithrombotic medication.