Outcomes in atrial fibrillation patients on combined warfarin & antiarrhythmic therapy

Science Direct: February 13,  2012 – Annie Guérin^a, , Jay Lin^b, Mehul Jhaveri^c, Eric Q. Wu^a, Andrew P. Yu^a, Martin Cloutier^a,Genevieve Gauthier^a, Joseph S. Alpert^d.

Abstract

Background

This retrospective cohort study compared rates of treatment persistence, incidences of de novo stroke, arterial embolism, and hemorrhage/bleeding, and healthcare resource use and costs between atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/AFL) patients receiving concomitant warfarin (W) + amiodarone (A) or warfarin + other antiarrhythmic drug (OAAD) therapy in real-world practice.

Methods

The Ingenix IMPACT database (1997–2009) was used to identify patients with ≥ 1 diagnostic claim for AF/AFL and concurrent pharmacy claims (≥ 60 days’ supply) for W and A (n = 4238) or W + OAAD (n = 6332) within the first 90 days of initiating therapy. Outcomes of interest were assessed over 12 months following initiation of dual therapy. Read More