Medication analyses: Fewer problems with antithrombosis

With anticoagulants such as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) , clopidogrel , apixaban , or phenprocoumon (Marcumar® and generics), one is always walking a fine line between the thrombotic events one wants to prevent and the risk of bleeding that one accepts as a possible side effect. And if the adjustment alone weren't difficult enough, most patients require additional medications. A study conducted in German Pharmacies shows that these patients can benefit from medication analysis.

For this purpose, pharmacist Dr. Tanja Elnaz Hassanzadeh created the Pharmaceutical Services (PDS) conducted medication analyses for 87 patients in the Munich area who were taking at least three medications on a long-term basis, including at least one antithrombotic (platelet aggregation inhibitor or anticoagulant). She analyzed the results as part of her doctoral thesis.

Using software-assisted analysis, she identified a total of 234 medication-related problems (ABPs)—an average of 2.7 per patient. About one in four of these were relevant to antithrombotic medication, which in most cases consisted of aspirin and/or a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC).

Through medication analyses (in consultation with a physician if necessary), Hassanzadeh was able to reduce the number of ABPs by 43.2 percent – ​​corresponding to an average reduction of 1.2 ABPs per person. 44.4 percent of her suggestions were fully implemented, while the implementation of 30.3 percent remained unclear, and only in a relatively small number of cases were her suggestions rejected.

In addition, the already relatively good Patient adherence was moderately improved, as was quality of life, as shown by a before-and-after survey using standardized questionnaires. In addition to improved drug therapy safety ( According to the AMTS , this could also be due to Hassanzadeh taking the time to discuss medication and potential problems individually, motivating patients to take better care of their own health. "After the medication analysis, the patients demonstrated a better understanding of their medication," Hassanzadeh added to the Pharmaceutical Journal.