ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Warfarin is the most widely prescribed oral anticoagulant; it is highly effective for the treatment and prevention of venous and arterial thrombosis. The beneficial outcomes of warfarin therapy are dependent upon achieving and maintaining an optimal international normalized ratio [INR] therapeutic range. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of our newly established clinic at Queen Alia Heart Institute [QAHI] in the Royal Medical Services [RMS], Jordan
Patients and Methods: An observational prospective study was carried out in a newly established anticoagulation clinic managed by two clinical pharmacists and one nutritionist in QAHI since September 2013 until June 2014. The patients [no= 250] who were on warfarin for at least two months referred to the clinic were included in our study. All patients or their care givers received a 45 minutes educational session and a warfarin booklet. Then they were followed up regularly for achieving and maintaining the target INR and developing any adverse events related either too high or low INR [>4.5 or <1.5, respectively]
Results: The age range of this group of the patients who were referred to t he clinic was wide, 5-81 years. 65% of them were males, with the most common indications for Warfarin were aortic and mitral valves replacement, and atrial fibrillation.72% of the patients were not achieving therapeutic [T] INR 43% of them achieve the TINR within the first week, 28% within the second week, 17% within the third, 4% within the fourth and 8% exceeded 4 weeks. The proportion of time within TINR for all the patients during the whole period was 75%. Only 7% of the patients had low INR, <1.5 and 5% had high INR, >4.5 for one visit. No major thromboembolic or hemorrhagic events were reported
Conclusion: The newly established clinic had achieved a considerable encouraging results and feedbacks in the short period of time since it had been established