Age-and Gender-Related Differences in Anticoagulant Drugs Use Patterns

Abstract

Aim: Drug utilization study is considered a powerful exploratory tool to assess the present trends of drug prescribing and appropriateness of prescription and to analyze the differences in drugs utilization with respect to several factors such as age and gender. This study aims to describe the age-and gender-related differences in anticoagulant drugs use patterns. Methodology: The present study included the review of outpatient electronic prescriptions that include an anticoagulant drug in 2018 in a public hospital in Al-karj, Saudi Arabia. Results: Enoxaparin was prescribed mainly for patients between 20-39 years old (63.48%). Warfarin was prescribed mainly for patient more than 50 years old (59.38%). Enoxaparin was prescribed mainly for female patients (86.09%). Rivaroxaban and warfarin were prescribed mainly for female patients, 64.71% and 59.38% respectively. Conclusion: There are differences in prescribing anticoagulant according to gender and age. It is important to know the differences in prescribing anticoagulants according to age and gender and if the treatment is inappropriate, it is important to identify and address reasons for treatment disparities in anticoagulation prescription.