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- Title
Burden of upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients prescribed dabigatran for stroke prevention.
- Authors
Pak-Hei Chan; Jo-Jo Hai; Duo Huang; Mei-Han Ho; Chan, Esther W.; Bernard Man-Yung Cheung; Annie On-On Chan; Ian Chi-Kei Wong; Hung-Fat Tse; Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung; Chung-Wah Siu
- Abstract
Background: Dabigatran, a non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant, has been shown to prevent stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Nonetheless, studies show that 10%-30% of those prescribed dabigatran experience dyspepsia that may eventually lead to discontinuation of therapy and loss of clinical benefit. Aim: To evaluate the gastrointestinal tolerability of dabigatran utilizing a validated questionnaire, as well as determining subsequent non-compliance and drug discontinuation. Method: This is an observational study. All patients were assessed by a validated questionnaire, Hong Kong dyspepsia index, prior to drug prescription and again 4 weeks later. Results: In this study, 115 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (mean age: 74.6 ± 11.4 years; mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.39 ± 1.59) were prescribed dabigatran. At baseline, the mean Hong Kong dyspepsia index was 12.9 ± 1.6 and nine patients had significant dyspepsia (Hong Kong dyspepsia index ≥ 16). After 4 weeks, the mean Hong Kong dyspepsia index was similar at 12.6 ± 1.9 (p = 0.23). There was no change in Hong Kong dyspepsia index after initiation of dabigatran in 59 (51.3%) patients, and improvement in 37 (32.2%). Only 19 (16.5%) patients had worsening of Hong Kong dyspepsia index, and among these 19 patients, only 1 patient (0.9%) discontinued dabigatran due to significant dyspepsia. Conclusion: Worsening of dyspepsia with dabigatran 110 mg twice daily was uncommon with correct drug administration and clear instructions provided. Systematic assessment of dyspeptic symptoms using a validated questionnaire (i.e. Hong Kong dyspepsia index) before and after treatment initiation allows a more objective comparison of dyspeptic symptoms.
- Publication
SAGE Open Medicine, 2016, Vol 4, p1
- ISSN
2050-3121
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/2050312116662414