New Oral Anaticoagulant Prescribing Decisions amongst General Practitioners: Handle with Care

Background: Prescribing oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation patients is becoming more challenging as more alternatives enter the market. While warfarin has dominated the market it is a challenging medicine to use owing to its narrow therapeutic range, increased bleeding risk and requirement for continuous monitoring. The introduction of new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) offers a wider choice but they are more costly and their use also brings additional pharmacological considerations. Objective: This paper investigates if the identified risk factors (renal impairment, hepatic impairment, other co-morbidities & drug interactions) influence GPs' NOAC prescribing decisions, using a multivariate probit model, while controlling for other GP characteristics. Methods: Employing primary data, collected using a dedicated survey of Irish GPs in November 2015, a multivariate probit is employed. This measures the joint decision making process of prescribing a NOAC based on four risk factors - renal impairment, hepatic impairment, other comorbidities and drug interactions. Results: Younger GPs are more likely to consider 'other co-morbidities' and 'renal impairment' as important when making NOAC prescribing decisions. Male GPs are more likely to consider 'other co-morbidities' and 'drug interactions' as important when prescribing NOACs compared to female GPs. Prescribers who have initiated NOACs are more likely to consider 'renal impairment' as important compared with non-initiators. Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance for general practitioners prescribing NOACs and caring for patients on oral anticoagulants, of adequate education, of appropriate patient selection and of appropriate monitoring of such patients. While warfarin prescribing remains predominant, NOAC prescribing is increasing. Incorporating the risk factors into prescribing decisions signals responsible prescribing for atrial fibrillation patients. Existing prescribing guidelines/toolkits need to be used in an effective manner.