Primary Care Atrial Fibrillation Service: outcomes from consultant-led anticoagulation assessment clinics in the primary care setting in the UK

BMJ Open

Service was delivered in 56 GP practices. Eligible patients on anticoagulation improved from 77% to 95% (p<0.0001). Audit of 8 practices after 195 days showed 90% continued treatment; ~30–35 strokes/year may have been prevented in these previously under-treated high-risk patients.

Association between use of warfarin with common sulfonylureas and serious hypoglycemic events: retrospective cohort analysis

British Medical Journal

Study of 465,918 Medicare fee for service beneficiaries noted a substantial positive link between use of warfarin (WF) with glipizide/glimepiride and hospital admission/emergency department visits for hypoglycemia and related diagnoses, particularly in patients first starting WF.

The ORBIT bleeding score: a simple bedside score to assess bleeding risk in atrial fibrillation

European Heart Journal

In this report of a validation of a new risk-scoring tool to assess bleeding risk in patients with AF, it is claimed that the five-element ORBIT bleeding risk score had better ability to predict major bleeding than either HAS-BLED and ATRIA risk scoring tools.

A Multinational Trial of Prasugrel for Sickle Cell Vaso-Occlusive Events

New England Journal of Medicine

In this RCT, 341 patients with sickle cell anaemia (aged 2 – 17) were randomised to receive prasugrel or placebo. At the end of the trial no significant differences were seen in the primary end-point of vaso-occlusive crises (2.30 vs 2.77 per patient per year).

Safety and effectiveness of oral rivaroxaban versus standard anticoagulation for the treatment of symptomatic deep-vein thrombosis (XALIA): an international, prospective, non-interventional study

The Lancet Haematology

In this real-life comparison of outcomes in patients receiving rivoroxaban (RV) (n=2619) or standard anticoagulation (n=2149) it was reported that although RV patients had a lower baseline risk, adjusted analyses show it to be a safe and effective alternative to standard treatment.

Oral antiplatelet agents – are they safe in breastfeeding?

UKMi

This updated medicines Q&A provides advice on the safety of oral antiplatelet agents in breastfeeding mothers.

Antithrombotic therapy in the elderly: expert position paper of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Thrombosis

European Heart Journal

This expert opinion paper reviews the evidence and benefit and risk balance for antithrombotic therapy in the older age group and makes recommendations for maximising benefits and minimising risks.

The above records have been identified by UKMi and feature in the NICE Medicines Awareness Service. Further details on this service can be found at:
http://www.evidence.nhs.uk/about-evidence-services/content-and-sources/medicines-information/new-medicines-awareness-services