[Managing warfarin treatment in a small Icelandic rural practice in Húsavík].

Objective: To investigate the efficiency of warfarin management in Húsavík Health Care Center.

Material and Methods: All patients receiving warfarin treatment managed in Húsavík in the years 2001 and 2003 were included in the study. Main outcome measures were the percentage time within INR target range (Rosendaal) and whether the management was deemed satisfactory or unsatisfactory (defined as <3 measurements per year).

Results: In 2001 there were 34 patients receiving warfarin treatment in Húsavík but 57 in 2003. Median age was 71.5 and 76 years, 65% and 67% were males, indication for treatment was atrial fibrillation in 53% and 73% and INR target range was 2.0-3.0 in 74% and 86% respectively. The management was deemed unsatisfactory in 38.2% in 2001 but 10.5% in 2003 (27.7% absolute reduction, p=0.0017). Percentage time spent within target range was 61.2% and 63.1% respectively.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that the quality of anticoagulant control in Húsavík is adequate and fully comparable with that shown in previous studies from our neighbouring countries.