[How to maintain an adherence to oral anticoagulant in a patient with atrial fibrillation?]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pharmacology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Direct oral anticoagulants (DOA) offer simpler treatment than warfarin for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients.
• However, suboptimal adherence to DOAs can lead to recurrent cardioembolic stroke in some AF patients.
• Ensuring high adherence is crucial, especially for elderly AF patients with comorbidities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the adherence rates of direct oral anticoagulants (DOA) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
• To investigate the factors contributing to adherence, particularly in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities.
• To highlight the potential of rivaroxaban as a highly adherent treatment option.

Main Methods:

• Review of large, modern clinical practice studies.
• Analysis of adherence data for patients prescribed DOAs, including rivaroxaban.
• Comparison of adherence patterns across different patient demographics and comorbidities.

Main Results:

• High adherence to rivaroxaban therapy has been observed in clinical practice studies.
• Once-daily dosing, safety profile, and effectiveness of rivaroxaban may contribute to its high adherence.
• Simpler pharmacotherapy regimens are particularly important for elderly patients with AF and comorbidities.

Conclusions:

• Rivaroxaban demonstrates high patient adherence in real-world settings for atrial fibrillation management.
• The once-daily dosing and favorable safety/efficacy profile of rivaroxaban support its role in improving treatment compliance.
• Optimizing adherence through simpler regimens like once-daily rivaroxaban is vital for preventing stroke in AF patients.