Self-management of Oral Anticoagulants by Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: How Effective and Safe Is It?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmia. Its frequency is constantly increasing together with the life span of the general population, since the incidence of AF rises with age. This arrhythmia should not be underestimated, because it leads to a significant increase of mortality [1] and of clinical events with a high medical cost: heart failure and systemic thromboembolism. Hence the rising involvement of health structures in order to manage the arrhythmia and its complications, with the contribution of different medical operators.