Distribution characteristics and factors influencing oral warfarin adherence in patients after heart valve replacement

PURPOSE: Oral warfarin anticoagulation is a long-term treatment that is required after heart valve replacement. This treatment can prevent serious complications, such as embolism, thereby increasing patients’ postoperative survival rates and quality of life. Patients treated with artificial mechanical heart valve replacement were followed up over the phone at different times after the procedure, which is an effective method for preventing accidents related to postoperative oral warfarin anticoagulation. Our goal was to determine a method for providing theoretical guidance to patients on oral warfarin anticoagulation following heart valve replacement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The participants of this study were patients who received artificial mechanical heart valve replacements and were followed up for 2 years after the procedure. Patient adherence to medical advice was calculated, and the distribution characteristics of adherence to prescribed timing, prescribed dose, and regular clinical follow-up among patients of both sexes and of different ages, regions, and educational levels attained were compared. RESULTS: Univariate and multifactorial logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the factors influencing adherence. Our analyses showed that adherence to oral warfarin anticoagulation in patients after heart valve replacement is influenced by sex, age, residential location, and educational attainment. The medication habits of patients can be evaluated accordingly via phone follow-up. As such, dose adjustment recommendations can be provided, significantly increasing the adherence to oral warfarin anticoagulation in patients after heart valve replacement. CONCLUSION: Adherence to oral warfarin anticoagulation among patients after heart valve replacement is affected by sex, age, type of residence, and educational level, as well as adherence to clinical follow-up over the phone. The follow-up sessions help establish good doctor–patient communication, which is critical for timely medication guidance, thus shortening medication administration delays and decreasing the overall length of therapy.