The use of a Bayesian forecasting model in the management of warfarin therapy after total hip arthroplasty

This study was performed to compare the computer-based and physician-based management of warfarin therapy after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The comp uter-assisted and control groups of patients were placed on warfarin postop eratively and followed for a 1-month period. A significant difference (P <. 05) was found between the mean number of days needed to reach therapeutic a nticoagulation in the control group (4.7 +/- 3.0 days) and the experimental group (2.8 +/- 1.4 days) and the proportion of patients in each group who were discharged with a subtherapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) (INR < 1.5). The computer-based management of warfarin therapy was more eff icient than unaided physician-based management and therefore may lead to im proved, cost-effective patient care by reducing length of hospital stay and complications attributable to nontherapeutic anticoagulation in THA patien ts.