DRUG-RELATED PROBLEMS IN PRESCRIBING ANTICOAGULANTS IN PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AT A CAN THO HOSPITAL IN 2025
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Drug-related problems can affect the safety and efficacy of anticoagulants for patients with atrial fibrillation; however, research in this area is limited. Objectives: To describe the characteristics of prescriptions and determine the frequency of drug-related problems associated with anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation. Materials and methods: A retrospective study of 120 outpatient prescriptions for patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation at Can Tho Central General Hospital between April 1 and September 30, 2025. Results: The age group >75 years accounted for 39.2% of cases. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity, accounting for 80.0% of cases. Acenocoumarol was the most commonly used oral anticoagulant, featuring in 100% of prescriptions. Of the prescriptions, 55% involved the use of ≥5 drugs, with statins being the most frequently prescribed group at 86.7%. The proportion of prescriptions with drug-related problems was 80.8%, the majority of which were drug selection issues (T1) (75.0%) and dosage issues (T2) (34.2%). Conclusions: Drug-related problems were common among outpatient prescriptions for patients with atrial fibrillation, with drug selection and dose selection being the most frequent categories. These findings highlight the need for clinical pharmacy interventions to optimize anticoagulant prescribing and improve medication safety.
Keywords
Drug-related problems, atrial fibrillation, anticoagulants
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