Variables affecting the quality of anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation patients newly initiating vitamin K antagonists: insights from the national and multicentre SULTAN registry

Abstract Aims Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are effective drugs reducing the risk for stroke in atrial fibrillation (AF), but the benefits derived from such therapy depend on the international normalized ratio (INR) maintenance in a narrow therapeutic range. Here, we aimed to determine independent variables driving poor anticoagulation control [defined as a time in therapeutic range (TTR) <65%] in a ‘real world’ national cohort of AF patients. Methods and results The SULTAN registry is a multicentre, prospective study, involving patients with non-valvular AF from 72 cardiology units expert in AF in Spain. At inclusion, all patients naïve for oral anticoagulation were started with VKAs…