Determination of the Percentage of Patients Using Warfarin to Reach Target INR

Abstract

Warfarin is the most commonly used oral anticoagulant in the treatment and prophylaxis of thromboembolic diseases. In order to prevent thrombosis and to avoid hemorrhagic complications, the patient's INR is kept within a certain range according to the indication and monitored at certain intervals. Our aim in our study is to determine the percentage of patients using warfarin for various indications reaching target INR values. Patients who used warfarin for various indications at our hospital's Internal Medicine outpatient clinic between May 2023 and November 2023 were included in our study, and their INR results were recorded by retrospectively scanning them. A study group was formed with a total of 130 patients. Patients using warfarin due to metallic heart valve replacement, AF, PTE and CVD were evaluated separately according to the target INR value. The percentage of patients with metallic heart valve replacement reaching the target INR value of 2.5-3.5 was calculated as 38.5% (n: 27). The percentages of patients with AF, PTE and CVD reaching their target INR values of 2-3 were calculated as 40% (n:16), 54% (n:7), 70% (n:5), respectively. Considering the entire study group, the percentage of reaching the target INR was calculated as 42% (n: 55). As a result, warfarin not being within the therapeutic range causes serious morbidity and mortality. In our study, the percentage of patients reaching the target INR was found to be 42%. This percentage is very low, and in order to increase this rate, it is necessary to increase patient awareness, increase the frequency of follow-up of patients and develop more effective follow-up strategies.