Loading...
Because the new direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs; apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, and rivaroxaban) have the potential to cause serious bleeding, regular patient contact is required to assess changes in health status, answer questions, and check adherence to dosing. To assist clinicians in the safe use of the new DOACs, a group of experts have prepared a checklist for patient monitoring (see resources at http://www.thrombosiscanada.ca).
The checklist includes questions about drug adherence, bleeding, renal function, and concomitant medications and has a section that assesses blood pressure and risks for falling. It also includes questions about changes in health status, doses missed during an average week, signs and symptoms of bleeding, and…