Trends in oral anticoagulant use in Qatar: a 5-year experience

• Published in: Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis 2017-04, Vol.43 (3), p.411-416
• Main Authors: Elewa, Hazem, Alhaddad, Amani, Al-Rawi, Safa, Nounou, Amir, Mahmoud, Hesham, Singh, Rajvir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Anticoagulants - therapeutic use; Cardiology; Dabigatran - therapeutic use; Drug Utilization Review - statistics & numerical data; Drug Utilization Review - trends; Drug Utilization Review - utilization; Female; Hematology; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Prescriptions - statistics & numerical data; Qatar; Rivaroxaban - therapeutic use; Warfarin - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0929-5305; 1573-742X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11239-017-1474-4

In Qatar, dabigatran was introduced in 2011 followed by rivaroxaban in 2014. In this study, we aim to explore the trends in oral anticoagulant use in Qatar over the past 5 years and to what extent did DOACs replace warfarin. We also explored the extent of switching between different anticoagulants (from warfarin to DOACs and vice versa). We collected all anticoagulant prescriptions dispensed as in- or out-patient from 2011 to 2015 in all Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) hospitals. Overall number of patients using warfarin, dabigatran and rivaroxaban over the last 5 years collectively was calculated. Per each calendar year, we calculated the number of all 3 OAC used (warfarin, dabigatran and rivaroxaban), frequency of use of each one of the OAC prescribed and compared the change in proportion of DOACs to warfarin prescriptions over the years. Overall, 6961 patients were using OAC over the past 5 years among which 5849 (84%) used warfarin, 496 (7.1%) used dabigatran and 616 (8.8%) used rivaroxaban. Oral anticoagulants use increased gradually from 2091 in 2011 to 3688 in 2015. Number of patients receiving DOACs increased significantly compared to warfarin [11 (0.5%) in 2011 vs. 849 (23%) in 2015 (p