Browsing by Author "Gebrehiwot, Teklu"

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    Assessment of complications of anticoagulant therapy at medical wards of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2014-01) Gebrehiwot, Teklu; Shibeshi, Workineh(PhD); Gebremedhin, Amha(PhD)
    Anticoagulant therapy is one of the most common form of medical treatment. The most common anticoagulant therapy complications are bleeding and thromboembolic complications. Bleeding is the primary complication. Factors that can affect the complications include age, gender, comorbidities, intensity of anticoagulant effect, length of therapy and concomitant drugs. The objective of the study was to assess complications of anticoagulant therapy at medical wards of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. A prospective longitudinal study design involving patient follow-up and chart review was conducted from November to June 2014. Chi-square test and Linear Mixed Model regression were employed to examine the relationships and associations between variables. The incidence of complications of anticoagulant therapy was found to be 60 (26%). Bleeding was the most common reported 27 (12.4%) (5.2% major, 10.7% minor), followed by thromboembolism 12 (7.1%), bruising 10 (5.9%), heparin induced thrombocytopenia 9 (5.3%) and skin necrosis 8 (4.7%). Sex, concomitant drugs, intensity of INR/aPTT values, usual trend of coagulation treatment and having coagulation profiles from different laboratory sites had been associated with complications. However, age, comorbidities, length of therapy, number of anticoagulants and anticoagulant therapy related factors were not significant risk factors. The findings of this study indicated that patient on anticoagulant therapy at medical wards were at higher risk of bleeding followed by thromboembolic complications. Availability of coagulation laboratory reagents at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and preparing guidelines on anticoagulant therapy harmonized with the laboratory values is recommended. Key words: Complication, bleeding, thromboembolism, skin necrosis, bruising, HIT, INR, aPTT, anticoagulants