Type and doses of oral anticoagulants and adherence to anticoagulant treatment in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation: the ESPARTA study.

Aim: To analyze the use of oral anticoagulants in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation in clinical practice. Patients & methods: Cross-sectional and multicenter study performed in atrial fibrillation patients >= 75 years treated with oral anticoagulants >= 3 months. Results: 837 patients (83.0 +/- 5.0 years; CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc 5.0 +/- 1.4; HAS-BLED 2.1 +/- 0.9; 70.8% vitamin K antagonists; 29.2% direct oral anticoagulants [DOACs]) were included. Poor adherence was observed in 27.9% of patients. Higher scores in the Pfeiffer's test and FRAIL scale were associated with poorer adherence. Among patients treated with DOACs, 62.3% received the lower doses. Having high CHADS(2) score and being older were associated with the use of low doses. Conclusion: 28% of patients had a poor adherence to anticoagulant treatment. 62% of patients were treated with the lower doses of DOACs.