Oral anticoagulation use in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients in rural setting.

Background: The 2019 ACC/AHA/HRS guidelines established direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) as first line therapy over warfarin for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Ambulatory clinic patients with non-valvular AF or atrial flutter seen between 10/1/2019-7/12/2020 included. High-risk AF defined as males CHADS-VASc score ≥2 and females ≥3. Patients were separated into: warfarin, DOAC, or no oral anticoagulation (OAC). ATRIA bleed score calculated. A provider survey assessing knowledge and barriers to anticoagulation completed via REDCap between 3/5-4/16/2020.

Results: Of 12,014 subjects with AF, 8,032 were high risk (mean age 75.9 ± 9.8 years; 57.5% male). There were 4,619 (57.1%) ≥ 75 years and 63.4% were rural dwelling. There was no significant difference between the number of subjects on anticoagulation before and after the guideline publication (75.6% vs. 75.7%,  = 0.79). Warfarin use decreased 2.3% over 1 year (39.3% to 37.0%), while DOACs increased 2.4% (36.2% to 38.7%,  < 0.001 for both). At 1-year, age, male gender, CHADS-VASc score 4-6, hypertension, stroke and cardiology consult increased prescription of OAC (p<0.05). Vascular disease, high risk ATRIA bleed, renal disease, prior hemorrhage, and left atrial appendage occlusion were associated with decreased OAC use ( < 0.05). Left atrial appendage occlusion device use was low (<1%). In a survey, majority of providers noted bleeding risk (35.1%) and cost (25.0%) to be the biggest barriers to DOAC use.

Conclusions: The new guidelines caused a slight increase in DOACs over time. Significant barriers to DOAC use exist in rural areas; one in four high risk AF patient remains without OAC therapy.