“DOACs: The Preferred Anticoagulation for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation According to Research by Nivel, with Nearly 90% of GP Prescriptions Being DOACs, Leading to a Decrease in VKA Usage.”

2023-05-03 17:18:11

When GPs prescribe anticoagulation to patients who have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, DOACs are chosen in most cases. This is evident from research by Nivel.

While there is a clear preference for DOACs in the guideline for atrial fibrillation in hospital care, DOACs and vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are regarded as equivalent in the guideline for general practitioners. There is no preference advice.

However, the research shows that GPs do have a preference. Very soon after DOACs became available, GPs prescribe them to 88% of patients who start taking a blood thinner for atrial fibrillation.

Both patients who are just starting with a blood thinner and patients who have been using a blood thinner for a longer period of time do not often switch blood thinners. Because new patients mainly receive DOACs, the number of patients with a VKA will decrease.

The data used from 2017-2018 comes from Nivel Primary Care Registrations. 214 GP practices were selected for which data on medication and diagnoses were known. In these practices, a total of 14,068 patients used a blood thinner in connection with atrial fibrillation in 2018. The research was recently published British Journal of General Practice Open.

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