Pharmacist-Led Patient Self-Testing Superior to Usual Care for Warfarin Management in Mechanical Heart Valve Patients: Evidence from a Multicentre RCT in China

Highlights

• Pharmacist-led patient self-testing (PST) achieved a significantly higher Time in Therapeutic Range (TTR) of 67.2% compared to 55.1% in usual care (p<0.001).
• The PST model reduced the incidence of major bleeding from 7.9% to 0.7% and thromboembolic events from 6.8% to 0.4%.
• Younger age and the use of the PST model were identified as independent protective factors against warfarin-related adverse events.
• The study demonstrates the feasibility and safety of decentralizing anticoagulation management in developing healthcare regions through pharmacist-led interventions.

Background: The Challenge of Warfarin Management in China