| This was a retrospective observational cohort study with an aim to compare the complications and direct cost from management of warfarin induced complications between patients treated at the anticoagulant clinic and patients treated with usual medical care. All patients treated with warfarin during 1st October 2005 - 30th September 2006 in Roi-et hospital were included in this study.
There were 263 patients treated with warfarin which were 141 patients treated at anticoagulant clinic and 122 patients treated with usual medical care. The results showed that warfarin related complications were reported in 5 patients (3.5 %) treated at anticoagulant clinic. Of those; there was 1 patient with major bleeding (20 %) and 4 patients with minor bleeding (80 %). In patients treated with usual medical care, warfarin related complications were identified in 5 patients (4.1 %), which were 3 patients with major thromboembolism (60 %) and 2 patients with minor bleeding (40 %). Though there was no significant difference in terms of the incidence (p=0.88) of complications between 2 groups, types or severity of warfarin related complications were significantly different (p<0.05). In addition, direct cost from management of warfarin related complication in group of patients treated at anticoagulant clinic; especially the diagnostic fee was lower than those of patients treated with usual medical care group.
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