Adherence to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants is paramount to achieve clinical benefit in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, requiring multi-level educational and support strategies.
Adherence to NOACs is critical for clinical benefit in NVAF, requiring multi-level strategies and educational programs to improve patient compliance.
Oral anticoagulation is pivotal in the management of thromboembolic risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients. Effective anticoagulation is important to avoid major adverse events and medication adherence is central to achieve good anticoagulation control. Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are as effective and safe as vitamin K antagonist (VKAs) in NVAF patients. Due to the absence of routine anticoagulation monitoring with NOACs treatment, concerns have been raised about patient's adherence to NOACs and real-life data demonstrates variability in adherence and persistence. A multi-level approach, including patients' preferences, factors determining physicians' prescribing habits and healthcare system infrastructure and support, is warranted to improve initiation and adherence of anticoagulants. Adherence to NOACs is paramount to achieve a clinical benefit. Implementation of educational programs and easy-to-use tools to identify patients most likely to be non-adherent to NOACs, are central issues in improving the quality of NVAF anticoagulation management.
Raparelli et al. (Thu,) conducted a review in Non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Oral anticoagulants (NOACs) vs. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) was evaluated. Adherence to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants is paramount to achieve clinical benefit in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, requiring multi-level educational and support strategies.