Low persistence to rivaroxaban or warfarin among patients with new venous thromboembolism at a safety net academic medical center

Recent guidelines recommend direct acting oral anticoagulants (DOAC) over vitamin-k antagonist (VKA) for acute venous thromboembolism (VTE). Non-adherence to anticoagulation has been associated with increased frequency of VTE or stroke. This study evaluated 90 day persistence among patients prescribed rivaroxaban or warfarin for the treatment of acute VTE at an academic safety net hospital. We conducted a single center, retrospective cohort study of 314 consecutive patients newly prescribed rivaroxaban or warfarin for acute VTE between January 2016 and July 2017. Primary outcome was 90 day persistence, and secondary outcomes included 90 day readmission and/or ED visit, time to 90 m day readmission and/or ED visits, and attendance of direct oral anticoagulant education class. Of 314 patients, 78 were prescribed warfarin and 236 rivaroxaban. Patients had a mean age of 52 years, 62% were men, and 96% were diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism. Persistence at 90 days was 52.6% among patients prescribed warfarin compared to 45.3% for patients prescribed rivaroxaban (p = 0.2678). Persistencewas associated with decreased 90 day hospital or ED readmission. Among patients prescribed rivaroxaban, attending a pharmacist led educational class was associated with a 2.5 fold increase in persistence (p < 0.0001). Among patients with new onset venous thromboembolism, 90 day persistence with anticoagulation was similarly low with either rivaroxaban or warfarin therapy. Participation in a pharmacist led DOAC class was associated with a 2.5-fold increase in persistence on rivaroxaban.