124 GP-led anticoagulation counselling for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) in the community is neither comprehensive nor accurate: Results from a service improvement project.

Background: Stroke risk in NVAF can be reduced significantly by anticoagulation with either warfarin or the non- vitamin K antagonist (NOACs). NICE recommendations state that NOACs are as efficacious but also associated with significantly less intracranial bleeding compared to Warfarin and in this sense are safer than warfarin. Additionally NOACs do not require regular monitoring of their anticoagulant effects and therefore offer convenience to the patient. However they are not as tried and tested as warfarin and at the time of our study, did not have an available agent to reverse their effects in the event of a bleeding complication. NICE have recommended that patients are offered comprehensive anticoagulation counselling so that they can make an informed decision on which anticoagulant they prefer. We performed a service improvement project to assess the comprehensiveness and accuracy of GP-led anticoagulation counselling in the community.
Source: Europace - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research