Retrospective Evaluation of Patients Using Warfarin Admitted to Emergency Department

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the socio-demographics characters of patients taking Warfarin who present to the emergency department with a complaint of bleeding. Materials and Methods: From January 2002 to December 2005, records of patients who were on warfarin and who presented to the ED with a complaint of bleeding were retrospectively reviewed. A standard study form was used to extract data including age, sex, the level of education, the reason for Warfarin treatment, and other concommitent drugs, Warfarin dose and duration of use, International Normalized Ratio level (INR), frequency of INR measurement, CBC, liver function tests. Results: A total of 78 patients [48 women (61.5%) and 30 men (38.5%)] were enrolled in this study. Patients were 28 to 79 (mean 59 +/- 12.4) years old. 41% of patients were illeterate, 51.2% of patients had education at the 5th grade level. 32.1% of all patients were admitted to the emergency department with gastrointestinal bleeding and 55.1% of patients used a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in addition to Warfarin., Only 26.9% of patients had their INR measured every month. Conclusion: Better education of patients on Warfarin, regular international normalized ratio control and reduction of additional drug application may reduce the major bleeding frequency in the next survival of these patients.