Summary
This work is aimed at assessing the evidence for the possible improvement of therapeutic
control of anticoagulation, reduction of major bleedings, thromboembolism and improvement
of treatment-related quality of life in patients with self-managed oral anticoagulation
therapy versus oral anticoagulation patients on routine care. Randomised controlled
trials (RCTs) were identified using the COCHRANE LIBRARY, MEDLINE and EMBASE from
1966 to 2003. RCTs were selected involving patients with oral anticoagulation, which
were designed to compare a self-management group to a routine care group. Abstracts
and keywords were screened and, in the case of potential inclusion, evaluated. We
identified nine potentially relevant trials. Five were excluded for the following
reasons: double publication, the patients involved performed only selftesting, or
the results of the trial were only published as an abstract. Ultimately, four randomised
controlled studies fulfilled the criteria for inclusion. Anticoagulation control: Statistical analysis was not possible because of the great variety of international
normalised ratio measurements per patient between the different studies. Comparing
the four studies, there was no difference in oral anticoagulation control between
self-management care and management by a specialised anticoagulation clinic. In comparison
with routine care by general practitioners, self-management care was found to be better.
Major bleeding, arterial and venous thromboembolism: Data were available for all studies; however, the studies were either underpowered
or obviously not valid and therefore not suitable for statistical analysis. Treatment-related quality of life: Data were available for two studies, which showed that self-management could clearly
improve treatment-related quality of life. Patients’ self-management can improve the
quality of oral anticoagulation as an indirect parameter of a reduced risk for thromboembolic
and bleeding complications. Self-management oral anticoagulation treatment is safe
and improves treatment-related quality of life. Patients’ self-management is safe
and can improve the quality of anticoagulation control, however, no valid long term
study has yet actually demonstrated reduction of bleeding and thromboembolic events.
Keywords
Oral anticoagulation - self-management - routine care - specialised anticoagulation
clinic - general practitioner