Adherence to oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation: an Australian survey

<p><strong>Background:</strong> The aim of this study was to investigate the proportion of patients who have suboptimal adherence to oral anticoagulant (OAC), identify the predictors of adherence, and determine whether patient-related factors vary across adherence levels in Australia. </p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> Respondents were recruited for an online survey using Facebook. Survey instruments included the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, the Anticoagulation Knowledge Tool, the Perception of Anticoagulant Treatment Questionnaires, and a modified Cancer Information Overload scale. Predictors of medication adherence were identified using ordinal regression analysis. </p> <p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 386 responses eligible for analysis, only 54.9% reported a high level of adherence. Participants aged 65 years or younger were less likely to have high adherence compared to older participants (odds ratio [OR], 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33-0.88; <em>P</em> = .013), while females were more likely to be highly adherent compared to males (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.08-2.64; <em>P</em> = .023). The analyses showed that age, gender, treatment satisfaction, information overload, concerns about making mistake when taking OACs, and cost of medication were significant predictors of adherence. </p> <p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Self-reported suboptimal adherence to OAC is common among patients with atrial fibrillation. A focus on supporting people who are at higher risk of suboptimal adherence is needed to maximize the benefit of OAC therapy in this population.</p>