The burden of anticoagulation treatment affects patient satisfaction, which in turn affects adherence to treatment. Thus, we must thoroughly understand the advantages of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over vitamin K antagonists (VKAs)/warfarin given for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We compared satisfaction with anticoagulation therapy between 654 DOAC and 821 warfarin users enrolled in the SAKURA AF Registry. Satisfaction was assessed by means of the Anti-Clot Treatment Scale (ACTS), which includes 12-item burdens and 3-item benefits scales, and the treatment satisfaction questionnaire for medication II (TSQM II), which includes 2-item effectiveness, 3-item side effects, 3-item convenience, and 2-item global satisfaction domains. There were no significant between-group differences in TSQM II convenience (67.6 ± 14.5 versus 68.9 ± 14.5, P = 0.280), effectiveness (65.0 ± 13.3 versus 66.0 ± 15.0, P = 0.422), side effects (93.6 ± 13.7 versus 92.8 ± 14.4, P = 0.067), and global satisfaction (64.7 ± 14.9 versus 66.0 ± 14.6, P = 0.407) scores. In contrast, although there was no significant between-group difference in the ACTS benefits scores (9.8 ± 3.1 versus 10.1 ± 3.2, P = 0.051), the ACTS burdens scores (54.5 ± 6.3 versus 52.7 ± 6.9, P < 0.0001) were significantly higher in the DOAC users, independent of age, sex, and DOAC type. We can expect greater burden satisfaction with anticoagulation treatment in patients given a DOAC versus VKA/warfarin. The reduced burden of treatment will translate to greater patient adherence to their treatment plans and a positive effect on clinical outcomes.
Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Direct oral anticoagulant; Patient satisfaction; Warfarin.