Factors Correlated with Anticoagulation Choice in Primary Care Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and High Stroke Risk: Anticoagulation for NVAF in Primary Care

Background The available data on anticoagulation therapy in real-world primary care settings for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients at high risk of stroke is limited. Objective To evaluate anticoagulation therapy and elucidate the factors associated with the selection between direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and warfarin. Design and Participants This is a retrospective cohort study that included patients ≥ 18 years old at a large primary care outpatient group, a network of twenty clinics in the northeast United States between January 4, 2021 – January 4, 2023. Main Measures Oral anticoagulation therapy in AF patients with high risk of stroke (CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score of ≥ 2 in men or ≥ 3 in women). Key Results Among the 3,118 adult patients with AF and high risk of stroke (median age 77.90, IQR 71.66–84.50 years; male 57.6%), we found that older age (aOR 1.40, p = 0.003), greater BMI (25–29.9: aOR 1.32, p = 0.048; ≥ 30 aOR 1.42, p = 0.010), and taking more than five medications (aOR 2.28, p