Individualised assessment is required to establish the most appropriate anticoagulation option for patients

Commentary on: Ferguson C, Inglis SC, Newton PJ, et al. Barriers and enablers to adherence to anticoagulation in heart failure with atrial fibrillation: patient and provider perspectives. J Clin Nurs 2017: [Epub ahead of print : 8 Feb 2017].

Implications for practice and research

Healthcare professionals need to be aware that age and falls risk are not in themselves barriers to anticoagulation therapy. Anticoagulation therapy should not be withheld based on these factors alone.

Future research should focus on establishing enablers to anticoagulation therapy with the aim of improving compliance.

Context

Atrial fibrillation (AF) currently affects approximately 2% of the population of the Western countries.1 The prevalence of AF rises with concomitant cardiovascular disease, and up to one-third of people with heart failure will also suffer from AF.2 These figures are set to rise further with the continuing ageing population. It is estimated that the number of new AF cases...

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