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Evaluation of a warfarin initiation protocol for older people
Author(s) -
Wilkinson T. J.,
Sainsbury R.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1046/j.1445-5994.2003.00452.x
Subject(s) - warfarin , medicine , protocol (science) , surgery , emergency medicine , anesthesia , atrial fibrillation , alternative medicine , pathology
A protocol for initiation of warfarin therapy, targeted specifically for older people and based on individual responses to initial warfarin doses, was evaluated in a case‐control study. People within the protocol group: (i) received higher initial doses of warfarin, (ii) reached an international normalized ratio (INR) of 2 more quickly, (iii) spent more time with INR of 2−3 in the first week and (iv) were less likely to be over‐anticoagulated. However, the proportion of people who reached an INR of 2 too quickly (in <4 days) was no greater. The protocol correctly predicted the maintenance dose range of warfarin in over 70% of cases. (Intern Med J 2003; 33: 465−467)