Persistent Challenges in Direct Oral Anticoagulant Prescriptions: Time to Optimize Medication Safety in Hospital and Community Settings.

BACKGROUND

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have significantly transformed anticoagulant therapy, improving effectiveness, safety, and convenience in managing thromboembolic conditions. However, concerns persist regarding drug-related problems (DRPs) associated with DOACs, necessitating the establishment of multidisciplinary antithrombotic stewardship programs to optimize the selection, dosing, and monitoring of DOACs.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the incidence and types of DRPs associated with DOACs, the frequency of clinical pharmacist consultations, the acceptance rates of the clinical pharmacist recommendations, and physicians' adherence to appropriate DOACs prescribing practices.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted over 4 months in the internal medicine departments at Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Israel. The study included patients aged 18 years and older who were prescribed DOACs (apixaban, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran). Data on patient characteristics and clinical outcomes were collected from electronic medical records. A clinical pharmacist reviewed and reassessed the appropriateness of DOAC prescribing.

RESULTS

During the study period, 415 patients receiving DOACs were identified. Among them, 28.4% had inappropriate DOAC prescriptions leading to 128 recommended interventions. The most common DRP was underdosing (29.7%) followed by unjustified antiplatelet use (26.6%). Clinical pharmacists performed 85.9% of the interventions, with a physician acceptance rate of 72.7%. Patients with inappropriate DOAC prescriptions exhibited increased trends in thromboembolic events and in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite over a decade of clinical experience with DOACs, DRPs remain a significant challenge. Implementing antithrombotic stewardship programs is critical for optimizing DOACs use, reducing DRPs, and enhancing patient safety.