ABSTRACT
Objective To identify predictors of prescription initiation and persistence of warfarin in non-valvular atrial fibrillation ( NVAF ) patients with high risk of stroke ( CHA2 DS2-VASc≥2 ) . Methods NVAF patients consulted in our hospital from Aug , 2011 to Apr, 2015 were enrolled.Patients who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation were excluded . Patients were divided into two groups (warfarin group and non-warfarin group).Logistic regression was used to estimate the predictors of initiation warfarin prescription.Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox proportional hazards model was performed to determine rate of warfarin persistence and its associated factors .Results A total of 622 AF patients were enrolled and 490 patients with CHA2DS2-VASc≥2.Ten patients lost follow up and 480 patients were followed up with a mean follow-up period of ( 40.0 ±11.55 ) months.Of which 245 NVAF patients ( 51%) had a warfarin prescription.Patients with ischemic stroke ( OR 2.447 , 95%CI 1.435-4.171 , P=0.001 ) , heart failure ( OR 2.009 , 95%CI 1.084-3.724 , P=0.027 ) and persistent AF ( OR 2.231 , 95%CI 1.448-3.437 , P=0.0001 ) had a higher likelihood of warfarin prescription .Anemia ( OR 0.479 , 95%CI 0.238-0.964 , P=0.039), concommitant Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) use (OR 0.638, 95%CI 0.456-0.891, P=0.008 ) and longer distance to hospital ( OR 0.759 , 95%CI 0.610-0.945 , P=0.014 ) decreased the likelihood of warfarin prescription . One hundred and seventy-six ( 71.8%) warfarin users continued persistent therapy and the overall proportion of warfarin persistence was 78.3% for one year , 71.0% for 3 years.Seventy-six existing warfarin users continued the warfarin therapy (80%, 76/95),one hundred new users showed persistence to therapy ( 66.7%, 100/150 ) .Warfarin use before enrollment significantly increased warfarin persistence than new prescription ( P =0.008 ) .Variables associated with higher discontinuation were new prescription ( HR 1.786 , 95% CI 1.029-3.100 , P=0.039 ) , TCM use ( HR 1.687 , 95%CI 1.201-2.37 , P=0.003 ) and longer distance to hospital ( HR 1.446 , 95% CI 1.121-1.865, P=0.005).Conclusions In anticoagulation clinic, concommitant TCM use, distance to hospital and other factors were associated with warfarin initiation prescription and persistence .Identifying factors associated with warfarin treatment could help in developing adherence of patients .
ABSTRACT
The treatment of vasovagal syncope has been by far unsatisfactory. Beta-blockers may prevent vasovagal syncope, but they exacerbates heart asystole. Cardiac pacing prevents syncope but notpresyncope. The frequent, serious vasovagal syncope attacks of a 63- year-old woman patient were completely prevented by administration of 100 mg metoprolol (b.i.d) for 3 months until the patient experienced a complete heart block. A DDD pacemaker implantation abolished syncope but not the presyncope, which was eventually prevented in a follow-up period of 24 months by adding 75 mg atenalol twice a day. This case suggests a different mechanism involved in vasovagal syncope.