Cardio Notes: Coumadin Home Testing Viable

I hated having to get my INR levels tested when I was on warfarin(rat poison). I wonder how long before its available.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Arrhythmias/32085?utm_source=cardiodaily&utm_medium=email&utm_content=aha&utm_campaign=04-09-12&eun=gd3r&userid=424561&email=oc1dean@yahoo.com&mu_id=5523591

Warfarin Self-Testing Scores Big

Patients on warfarin (Coumadin) who used a self-testing device were able to maintain a high rate of time in target range, a retrospective analysis of the STABLE study found.

Of the nearly 30,000 patients analyzed, the rate of time in target range for those who self-tested weekly was 73%, while the overall rate, which included variable testing, was 69%, according to Jack Ansell, MD, from Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

Compared with younger patients (46 to 64 years), older patients (65 to 74 years) had higher a rate of time in target range (67% versus 72%), Ansell reported at the recent American College of Cardiology meeting.

Comparative times in target range from recent large trials evaluating the new oral anticoagulants have included:

• 64% in the RE-LY trial (dabigatran)
• 55% in ROCKET-AF (rivaroxaban)
• 62% in ARISTOTLE (apixaban)

Ansell said that home monitoring achieves better outcomes because it's convenient for patients, the test is consistent, and the immediate awareness of test results empowers patients and enhances compliance.

Three-quarters of the patients in the STABLE study were on warfarin for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, and these patients had better rates in therapeutic range compared with patients with other indications such as valvular disease alone or with atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism. Men had a slight edge over women in percent time in target range (72% versus 66%).