Why the study?
Does an age-adjusted warfarin loading protocol improve the time to reach a stable therapeutic INR in inpatients starting warfarin compared to Fennerty's protocol or empirical dosing?
Population
186 inpatients being commenced on warfarin for the first time at two teaching hospitals.
Comparison
Age-adjusted warfarin loading protocol vs Fennerty's protocol and empirical dosing
Design
RCT, Patients beginning warfarin were randomised to receive doses according to…
Follow-up
Until stable INR / first week
Authors
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Supports age-adjusted warfarin initiation in inpatients; extends RCT evidence favoring protocolized over empirical dosing.
Does an age-adjusted warfarin loading protocol improve the time to reach a stable therapeutic INR in inpatients starting warfarin compared to Fennerty's protocol or empirical dosing?
An age-adjusted warfarin loading protocol achieves therapeutic INR more rapidly and safely than Fennerty's protocol or empirical dosing, which is particularly important for elderly patients.
Roberts et al. (1999) studied this question.
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