Oral anticoagulants (OAC) are commonly used as a life-long therapy in the prevention of systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation, valvular heart disease, prosthetic heart valves, and in the primary and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism, in patients with acute myocardial infarction and angina pectoris. Drugs, herbs, and multivitamin supplements can alter the absorption, pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of OAC.
Aim: To investigate the possible interactions between oral anticoagulants and different drugs administered in patients in emergency department.
Methods: This 1-year exploratory investigation on 93 patients on OAC (aged 30 - 85 years), admitted at two emergency departments of the Iasi "Sf. Spiridon" Hospital and Piatra Neamţ Hospital, consisted in their medical records analysis: diagnosis, recommended treatement. Data were scored and statistically analyzed by t-test (Windows Excel). The experimental protocol was in agreement with the recommendations of the Gr.T. Popa University Committee for Research and Ethical Issues.
Results and conclusions: Analysis and statistical processing of data shows that during the study period 56 patients which received oral anticoagulant therapy associated with different other medication belonged to the 60 and 80 years age group. This finding suggests that the pathology is represented especially by atrial fibrillation and myocardial infarction. The correlation between the therapy consisting in OAC and sartan or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and International Normalized Ratio (INR), revealed a high level of anticoagulation and an increase in hemorragic complications.