The anticoagulation clinic of the hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl: demography, effectiveness and complications

Abstract

The use of oral anticoagulation therapy is more common every day. There is increasing evidence of better outcome in patients when anticoagulation is handled by anticoagulation clinics or services. This systemic managing has proved in that therapeutical range results in clinical improvement and decrease of hemorrhage, thrombosis and the use of medical resources. Even more, there are less hospitalizations and visits to the Emergency Department. The San Vicente of Paúl Hospital (HUSVP for it’s initials in Spanish) has an anticoagulation clinic functioning for over twenty years, but until now, there has been no work concerning it’s results and benefits. Our task is to describe the demographic characteristics, indications and behavior of the antithrombotic therapy of those patients adscript and active in the clinic of the mentioned Hospital until December 2002. 139 patients were found, 57.6% were women and 42.2% men; the average age was 64 years; and the health system coverage was entail in 55.4% of the patients, subsided in 26.6% and contributive 18%. The most common anticoagulation indications were atrial fibrillation (40%), stroke (26%) y hypercoagulability states (20%). The registered patients had a therapeutical range time of 41% with an annual control average of 4.5 times. Complications were present in 16% of the patients. This study was able to characterize the HUSVP anticoagulation clinic in its demographic variables, relevancy indications and co-morbid associated diseases. As well, some standardized parameters were evaluated in order to be compared with other clinics in the world.