Optimizing the use of antithrombotic therapy for atrial fibrillation in older people: A pharmacist-led multidisciplinary intervention

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To develop, implement, and evaluate a pharmacist-led multidisciplinary intervention in a hospital setting that would optimize antithrombotic use in elderly atrial fibrillation patients. The hypothesis that there would be an increase in the proportion of patients receiving antithrombotic therapy at discharge was tested. DESIGN: Evidence-based algorithms were developed to define the criteria (stroke risk vs contraindications) by which an elderly patient¿s requirement for antithrombotic therapy was assessed. SETTING: A major Sydney teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred eighteen consecutively admitted elderly patients (mean age 85.2) were recruited over a 6-month period.