Safety and efficacy of warfarin in treating patients with atrial fibrillation in Hospital Serdang

Warfarin is an anticoagulant that is used in prophylaxis of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). A total of 133 patients were recruited in this study is composed of 73 males and 60 females. 50% patients are of 65 years old and below, 33% are between age 65 and 74 and 17% are 75 years old and above. 73% of the patients have TTR less than 75% while the remaining 27 % have TTR of 75% and above. Factors that can influence INR reading and affecting TTR are missing dose (23%), not taking the right dose (10%), food and supplements (19%), more than one reason (17%), dental extraction (3%) and unknown (28%). Safety and efficacy of warfarin is greatly dependent on close monitoring of its use.