Quality of anticoagulation management among patients with atrial fibrillation - Results of a review of medical records from 2 communities

Background: Most treatment of patients at risk for stroke is provided in th f ambulatory setting. Although many studies have addressed the proportion o f eligible patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving warfarin sodium , few have addressed the quality of their anticoagulation management. Objective: As a comprehensive assessment of quality, we analyzed the propor tion of eligible patients receiving warfarin, the proportion of time their international normalized ratios (INRs) were within the target range, and, w hen an out-of-target range INR value occurred, the time until the next INR measurement was made. Methods: Retrospective review of the medical records of 660 patients with A F managed by general internists and family practitioners in Rochester, NY, and the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. Results: Only 34.7% of eligible patients with AF received warfarin. The INR values were out of the target range approximately half the time, and the r esponse to these values was not always timely. For all the measures conside red, both Rochester practices with access to an anticoagulation service had higher (albeit not ideal) quality of warfarin management than the remainin g practices. Conclusions: We found significant deficiencies in the practice of warfarin management and suggestive evidence that anticoagulation services can partia lly ameliorate these deficiencies. More research is needed to describe the quality of anticoagulation management in typical practice and how this mana gement can be improved.