[Quality of long-term oral anticoagulation: an observation study]

The aim of this observation study was to analyse the quality of the oral anticoagulation in a non-randomised field. Prospectively all patients with an oral anticoagulation were registered when entering the hospital. An assessment was made of the indication for the oral anticoagulation, the co-medication (especially the ones that influence the effect of the anticoagulation), the current International Normalized Ratio (INR), as well as any possible complications. All INR values were taken from the personal anticoagulation card of the patient. 140 patients were identified for the study. 16% of these patients had no obvious indication for an oral anticoagulation. Of the 1278 registered INR values, 582 (46%) were within the recommended range, according to the common guidelines. 359 (28%) INR values were too high and 337 (26%) were too low. 39 (28%) anticoagulation cards had been kept with the prothrombin time instead of INR measurements. The results of this observation survey show that the quality of the oral anticoagulation in a non-randomised field is mostly insufficient.