Quality of direct oral anticoagulant prescribing in elderly patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: results from a large urban health system

Non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is common in older adults. Oral anticoagulation is indicated to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism, but it also poses a risk of bleeding, particularly in the elderly. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) provide an alternative to warfarin and their use in the treatment of AF is growing. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess the quality of DOAC prescribing in elderly patients with NVAF in a large academic health system and to compare practice with consensus best practice recommendations. We searched the electronic medical record for patients ≥ 65 years of age who were newly initiated on a DOAC for AF from January 2013 through December 2015. Patient and provider characteristics, baseline laboratory investigations, concomitant medications, and interval to first follow-up were recorded. 192 patients met eligibility criteria. The most commonly prescribed DOACs were rivaroxaban (65%) and apixaban (26%). Despite consensus recommendations that patients have a baseline creatinine, complete blood cell count, and coagulation studies prior to DOAC initiation, these tests were not performed in 18, 31, and 67% of patients, respectively. Consensus recommendations also suggest a follow-up visit within 1 month of DOAC initiation. However, only 39% of patients had a return visit within 6 weeks and 43% did not have follow-up within 12 weeks. DOAC prescribing in elderly patients with NVAF frequently fell short of quality standards. Interventions to enhance the quality of DOAC prescribing in this high-risk population are needed.