There was no difference in adherence to Apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) who received an educational program compared to those who did not, according to results of the AEGEAN trial presented Aug. 30 at ESC Congress 2015 in London.

The study looked at AFib patients treated with Apixaban, who were enrolled in an education program (n=579) – which consisted of a patient information booklet explaining AFib and anticoagulation treatment for stroke prevention, reminder tools and access to a virtual clinical utilizing staff from existing Vitamin K antagonist monitoring clinics –compared to those who were not enrolled in an education program, and received usual information about the disease and treatment (n=583).

Results showed that at 24 weeks, the adherence rate was similar in each group: 88.5 percent in the non-education program group, and 88.3 percent in the education program group (P=0.89). Further, persistence rates were also similar: 90.5 percent and 91.1 percent, respectively (P=0.76).

According to the lead investigator Gilles Montalescot, MD, PhD, these results are nevertheless "quite encouraging" since there is "very good adherence to Apixaban, leaving little room for improvement with an education program."

He adds that moving forward, "Further studies may want to test more aggressive and more costly educational programs, but in the meantime the adherence and persistence rates we measured are quite reassuring with the common practice and usual mode of prescription of this medication."

"The AEGEAN study investigated the effects of a patient education program on adherence with the use of apixaban for stroke prevention in non-valvular AFib at six months," said ACC Immediate Past President Patrick T. O’Gara, MD, MACC. "Compared with routine care, an education program did not result in improved adherence rates. Remarkably, nearly 90 percent of patients in both the control (routine care) and intervention (education program) arms were adherent with prescribing instructions for apixaban. The authors plan to follow adherence rates for an additional 6-12 months to determine if differences become apparent over time."

Keywords: Atrial Fibrillation, Pyrazoles, Pyridones, ESC Congress

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