Clot Chronicles: Introducing the NATF Anticoagulation Action Initiative

Hello and welcome. This is Dr. Barkoudah from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. On this episode of Clot Chronicles, I would like to share with you the exciting news of the upcoming Anticoagulation Action Initiative from the North American Thrombosis Forum, NATF. 

The new Action Initiative will address a critical and unmet need for our patients – the extended prophylaxis for VTE, venous thromboembolism, in medically ill patients. As we all know, our vulnerable population of medically ill patients have a high risk of both DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and PE (pulmonary embolism)⏤together VTE⏤during hospitalization and, most importantly, after discharge. We know our patients who are immobile post-discharge—and not receiving the appropriate prophylaxis—would be at the highest risk. 

The data from the APEX trial showed that betrixaban could offer a pharmacological option. Recently, the MARINER trial showed that rivaroxaban could also be used [for VTE prophylaxis in medically ill patients during hospitalization and after discharge]. Experts around the nation—from cardiovascular medicine, hospital medicine, hematology, and pharmacy—all came together to provide guidance for the best clinical practice and patient-centered approaches through the NATF Action Initiative. 

The Action Initiative will provide our clinicians at the frontline with the best tools to stratify patient risk during hospitalization and apply the best clinical practices in prophylaxis. Our population, when they come to the hospital—specifically when they are medically ill—will definitely benefit from the new data. 

Please stay tuned for the upcoming publication in the American Journal of Medicine where the Anticoagulation Action Initiative will provide us with all the tools and update the data on best practices for our vulnerable population. 

Thank you for joining me today and please stay tuned.