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Table 4 Strength of Evidence Supporting the Systematic review and Meta-Analysis' Conclusions

From: Predictors of warfarin use in atrial fibrillation in the United States: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Characteristic

Conclusion

Strength of Evidence Rating

Meta-Analyzable Characteristics

   Alcohol and drug use

Reduces warfarin use

High

   Increasing age

Decreased warfarin use at older ages

Moderate

   Coronary artery disease

No effect in warfarin use

Moderate

   Congestive heart failure

Increases warfarin use

Moderate

   Contraindications to warfarin

Reduces warfarin use

High

   Cerebral vascular accident

Increases warfarin use

Moderate

   Dementia

Reduces warfarin use

Moderate

   Diabetes

No effect on warfarin use

Low

   Falls

Reduces warfarin use

Moderate

   Gastrointestinal bleeding

Reduces warfarin use

High

   History of bleeding

Reduces warfarin use

Moderate

   Hepatic impairment

Reduces warfarin use

Moderate

   Hypertension

No effect on warfarin use

Low

   Intracranial bleeding

Reduces warfarin use

High

   Male gender

Increases warfarin use

Moderate

   Perceived barriers to compliance

Reduces warfarin use

Moderate

   Renal impairment

Reduces warfarin use

Moderate

Qualitatively Assessed Characteristics

   Race (African-American or non-White)

Reduces warfarin use

Moderate

   Geographic region (South)

Reduces warfarin use

Moderate

   Geographic region (Northeast)

Increases warfarin use

Moderate

   Malignancy

Equivocal

Insufficient

   Progressing time

Increases warfarin use

Moderate

   Specialty of prescriber

Equivocal

Insufficient

   Insurance status

Equivocal

Insufficient

   Aspirin or other antiplatelet use

Reduces warfarin use

Moderate

Perceived appropriateness of warfarin

(appropriate)

Increases warfarin use

Moderate

   Perceived/actual risk of bleeding

Reduces warfarin use

Moderate

Admission source (home/outpatient) for

AF hospitalization

Increases warfarin use

Moderate

AF frequency (recurrent, persistent,

permanent)

Increases warfarin use

Moderate

   Seizures

No effect on warfarin use

Low

   Increasing risk of stroke/embolic event

Equivocal

Insufficient

   Rate of prior healthcare utilization

Equivocal

Insufficient

  1. AF = atrial fibrillation