Could Some Geriatric Characteristics Hinder the Prescription of Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation in the Elderly?

Table 2

Comparison of patients with AF according to their anticoagulation status.

(a) Geriatric characteristics

	Not anticoagulated		Anticoagulated
		Mean (SD) or %		Mean (SD) or %
Institution (long term care)	56	37.5%	84	26.2%	0.155
Number of classes of drugs	54	6.5 (2.9)	86	8.2 (3.2)	0.001
Drug management ability	53	51%	80	50%	0.915
ISAR (points)	56	3.4 (1.7)	86	3.5 (1.6)	0.6173
% ISAR ≥ 1	56	95%	86	98%	0.338
% ISAR ≥ 2	56	82%	86	85%	0.665
GDS (points)	56	0.9 (1.4)	86	0.8 (1.4)	0.619
% GDS > 1	56	38%	86	30%	0.368
% patients who fell < 6 months	50	30%	77	36%	0.459
% weight loss	53	36%	78	32%	0.651
% albumin < 3.5 g/100 mL	47	26%	69	25%	0.913

(b) Comorbidities

	Not anticoagulated		Anticoagulated
		%		%
% hospitalized < 6 months	52	33%	83	52%	0.030
Charlson (points)	54	2.4 (1.8)	83	2.6 (1.9)	0.525
Gastric ulcer	54	15%	84	19%	0.522
Liver	54	5%	84	9%	0.671
Hypertension	54	20%	84	25%	0.529
Myocardial infarction	54	13%	84	13%	0.982
COPD	54	13%	84	13%	0.982
Arteriopathy	54	11%	82	15%	0.553
Connectivitis	54	2%	84	2%	0.835
Cancer	54	24%	84	19%	0.053
HIV	54	0%	84	0%	—
Diabetes (not complicated)	56	9%	86	7%	0.671
Diabetes (complicated)	56	4%	86	3%	0.979
Hematological	54	7%	84	4%	0.316
CHADS2 score
CHADS2 (points)	56	2.3 (1.1)	86	2.44 (1.3)	0.557
% CHADS2 ≥ 2	56	77%	86	70%	0.360
Congestive	54	28%	84	37%	0.267
Hypertension	54	67%	84	55%	0.165
Age	54	100%	84	100%	—
Diabetes	54	13%	84	11%	0.903
Stroke	54	15%	84	23%	0.284

(c) ISAR (identification of senior at risk).

	Not anticoagulated		Anticoagulated
		%		%
>3 drugs	55	89%	86	100%	0.002
Need of help before admission	53	68%	80	64%	0.620
Need for help	53	45%	80	40%	0.546
Visual disorders	53	70%	79	75%	0.538
Memory disorders	52	50%	80	42%	0.398
Hospitalized < 6 months	52	33%	83	52%	0.030

(d) Drugs

	Not anticoagulated		Anticoagulated
		%		%
Sintrom	54	0%	86	81%	0.000
LMWH	54	0%	86	19%	0.001
Antiaggregants	54	43%	86	20%	0.004
Digoxin	54	7%	86	20%	0.003
Blockers	56	45%	86	57%	0.150
Flecainide	54	2%	86	1%	0.738
Ca-antagonists	54	20%	86	16%	0.230
IEC	54	35%	86	34%	0.723
Amiodarone	54	11%	86	22%	0.099
ARB	54	11%	86	10%	0.904
NSAI	54	2%	86	2%	0.851