Anticoagulation During the Cold Harmattan Season:Need for Extra Caution.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pharmacology
• Environmental Medicine

Background:

• Growing population of patients requiring chronic anticoagulation post-valve surgery.
• Potential for altered blood coagulability at lower temperatures, increasing bleeding risk.

Observation:

• Two cases of sudden death in patients on anticoagulation during the cold harmattan season.
• Progressive increase in International Normalized Ratio (INR) despite anticoagulant dose reduction.
• Patients experienced fatal outcomes within weeks of INR elevation.

Findings:

• Cold ambient temperatures, particularly during the harmattan season, may significantly prolong clotting times.
• Physiological responses to cold can lead to increased anticoagulation effect, even with reduced medication dosage.
• Significant inter-individual variability exists in response to temperature changes.

Implications:

• Clinicians, especially in tropical regions, must be aware of seasonal temperature effects on anticoagulation.
• Proactive monitoring and potential adjustments to anticoagulant therapy during cold seasons are crucial.
• Further research is needed to understand and manage temperature-related anticoagulation variability.