Current trends in the use of anticoagulant pharmacotherapy in the United Kingdom? Are changes on the horizon?

Current trends in the use of anticoagulant pharmacotherapy in the United Kingdom? Are changes on the horizon? Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2021 Jan 23;: Authors: Kotalczyk A, Gue YX, Potpara TS, Lip GYH Abstract INTRODUCTION: Effective stroke prevention with oral anticoagulation (OAC) reduces the risk of stroke and death among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). For most patients with AF, treatment options include vitamin K antagonists (VKA) or non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). NOACs have been introduced as an alternative to VKAs, and their use has been steadily increasing in the United Kingdom and Europe over a decade. In randomised clinical trials, NOACs had a favourable risk-benefit profile as compared to warfarin. However, there is a concern about their long-term safety in clinical practice, especially in high-risk patients. There have been a number of registries and surveys based on the real-world patients with AF which has been conducted and published, providing data on contemporary AF management. AREAS COVERED: In this narrative review, the authors discuss current trends in the use of OAC in the United Kingdom and Europe, considering the potential directions for future anticoagulant therapy in patients with AF. EXPERT OPINION: The increasing prevalence of AF and AF-related comorbidities proves the need for comprehensive prevention and management strategies. The challenge is the optimisation...
Source: Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Expert Opin Pharmacother Source Type: research