Vitamin K antagonists are widely used, yet have a slim therapeutic margin and high iatrogenicity. Patients are monitored through international normalised ratio (INR) by venipuncture, but coagulometers could measure INR by capillary puncture. This prospective study evaluated the clinical concordance of capillary INR versus venous INR in 31 nursing home patients. Concordance was good and mean time in therapeutic range (TTR) markedly increased. Capillary INR is thus reliable, could improve TTR and decrease iatrogenicity.
Keywords: coagulometer; elderly; international normalised ratio; point-of-care testing; vitamin K antagonist.
© 2019 The Authors. Internal Medicine Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Royal Australasian College of Physicians.