Table 3.

Prevalence and examples of inappropriate ratings (n, [%]) for each criterion of the Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI), according to the anticoagulant therapy (DOAC or VKA)

	DOAC (n = 46)	VKA (n = 43)	Examples
Indication	0 [0]	0 [0]
Choice	12 [26]	6 [14]	DOAC: body weight <50 kg or >110 kg, poor adherence, severe renal failure; VKA: history of labile INR
Dosage	8 [17]	22 [51]	DOAC: dosage too high/low, apixaban or dabigatran etexilate taken once daily; VKA: INR values out of range (difference > 0.5)
Administration (modalities)	13 [28]	3 [7]	DOAC: rivaroxaban ≥15 mg without meals; VKA: variable time of intake
Administration (practicability)	2 [4]	1 [2]	DOAC: evening dose of dabigatran etexilate forgotten; VKA: INR measurements not performed
Drug–drug interactions	22 [48]	20 [47]	DOAC: + LMWH, + amiodarone and/or diltiazem and bleeding; VKA: + LMWH (INR in the therapeutic range), + antibiotics and changes of INR, ALL: + antiplatelets, SSRIs, NSAIDs and bleeding
Drug‐disease interactions	12 [26]	4 [9]	DOAC: moderate (dabigatran etexilate) and severe renal failure, VKA: esophageal varices, ALL: alcohol abuse
Duplication	1 [2]	1 [2]	ALL: + LMWH
Duration	2 [4]	4 [9]	ALL: no reevaluation of anticoagulation after pulmonary embolism

INR: International normalized ratio, LMWH: low molecular weight heparin, MAI: Medication Appropriateness Index, NSAID: non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, SSRI: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors