Profiles of patients on warfarin anticoagulation therapy in a leading tertiary referral hospital in Kenya; findings and implications for Kenya

Nyamu, David Gitonga and Guantai, Anastasia Nkatha and Osanjo, George Oyamo and Godman, Brian and Aklillu, Eleni (2020) Profiles of patients on warfarin anticoagulation therapy in a leading tertiary referral hospital in Kenya; findings and implications for Kenya. Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy, 18 (3). pp. 165-173. ISSN 1744-8344 (https://doi.org/10.1080/14779072.2020.1734452)

[thumbnail of Nyamu-etal-ERCT-2020-Profiles-of-patients-on-warfarin-anticoagulation-therapy-in-a-leading-tertiary-referral-hospital]
Preview
Text. Filename: Nyamu_etal_ERCT_2020_Profiles_of_patients_on_warfarin_anticoagulation_therapy_in_a_leading_tertiary_referral_hospital.pdf
Accepted Author Manuscript

Download (797kB)| Preview

Abstract

Background: Patients’ profiles affect the outcome with warfarin; however, this data, and its implications, is scarce in resource-poor countries without access to pharmacogenetics or regular INR testing. Objectives: To characterize the profiles of patients on long-term warfarin therapy and subsequently use these to guide future anticoagulation management. Methods: Cross-sectional study among 180 adult patients receiving warfarin therapy in at a leading referral hospital in Kenya. Sociodemographic characteristics were obtained through face-to-face interviews. Details of warfarin therapy, concomitant medication and comorbidities were retrieved from medical records. Associations between patients’ profiles and the clinical indications of anticoagulation were computed at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Warfarin maintenance dose was 6.17 (±2.75) mg per day. Venous thromboembolism (56.6%) amongst obese patients (p = 0.0019) and cardioembolic events (48.3%) among males (p = 0.0316) aged ≤50 years (p = 0.0436) whose body mass indices were ≤ 25 (p < 0.0001) were the most common indications. Two-fifths and 45.0% of the patients had at least one other disease and concomitant medications. Conclusions: Long term warfarin therapy among Kenyans is mainly for overweight or lean middle-aged individuals suffering from venous or cardioembolic diseases. Studies should correlate patients’ profiles with warfarin response to guide future management.