Table 2. Reasons for non-use of warfarin in patients with newly-diagnosed atrial fibrillation and high risk of stroke.
Reason* | Pre-notification period No. (%), N = 60 | Notification period No. (%), N = 91 |
---|---|---|
Surgical intervention planned | 13 (22) | 21 (23) |
Choice to use aspirin | 10 (17) | 17 (19) |
No documented reason | 3 (5) | 15 (16) |
Clinical documentation of current warfarin use (i.e., discrepancy between medication record and clinical notes) | 6 (10) | 10 (11) |
Frequent falls | 8 (13) | 6 (7) |
Sinus rhythm on subsequent ECG | 8 (13) | 6 (7) |
Patient in hospice care | 5 (8) | 5 (5) |
Patient death | 4 (7) | 5 (5) |
High bleeding risk not otherwise specified | 5 (8) | 3 (3) |
Use of other anticoagulation (e.g., IV heparin) | 1 (2) | 6 (7) |
History of gastrointestinal bleeding | 1 (2) | 5 (5) |
Overall complexity | 1 (2) | 5 (5) |
Patient refused | 5 (8) | 1 (1) |
Documented CHADS2<2 (i.e., different calculation by care team) | 2 (3) | 3 (3) |
History of stroke or intracranial bleed | 0 (0) | 4 (4) |
Deferred to primary care provider | 2 (3) | 1 (1) |
Intracranial appliance | 1 (2) | 0 (0) |
* Reasons reflect clinical documentation of rationale according to care team. Numbers sum to >100% because a given patient could have more than one reason for non-use.