Cost-effectiveness analysis of dabigatran and anticoagulation monitoring strategies of vitamin K antagonist

Table 1 Main strategies of oral anticoagulant therapy in Spain

Modality	Test	Dose adjustment	Comments
PSM	Patient	Patient	Dose adjustment may sometimes require telephone help from a health professional
PCpc	RN in primary care center using portable coagulometer	RN in health center	Blood samples may be taken in the patient’s home on some occasions
Hpc	RN in hospital using portable coagulometer	Specialist in hospital	Involves the addition of a portable coagulometer to the conventional centralized model
Hvp	RN in hospital using venipuncture	Specialist in hospital	Conventional centralized mode of OAT control in the so-called “Sintrom Units” in Spain.
Dabi	No monitoring	No adjustment	Dabigatran does not require dose adjustment

RN Registered nurse; PSM Patient self-management; PCpc Primary care using portable coagulometry; Hpc Hospital with portable coagulometry; Hvp Hospital with venipuncture; Dabi Dabigatran

ISSN: 1472-6963