Prepared by: Aleš Korošec
Date of last change: September 2016

Purpose and justification of the indicator

The aging of the population is associated with a higher incidence of chronic diseases (mainly cardiovascular) and a higher risk of thromboembolic events. Arterial and venous thromboembolic complications are prevented and treated with antithrombotic drugs, which are divided into antiaggregatory agents, fibrinolytics, and anticoagulant drugs. The most effective is anticoagulant treatment with coumarins, which is received by more than 35,000 patients in Slovenia and is newly introduced to 7,000-8,000 patients annually. The number of patients who need anticoagulant treatment or protection, will continue to increase in the future due to the aging of the population, the extension of the duration of treatment and the spread of indications. An aging population brings with it an increased incidence of conditions that increase the risk of stroke and thromboembolism. The appropriate choice of anticoagulant therapy is justified from the point of view of reducing morbidity and mortality. Anticoagulant drugs are essential for the treatment and prevention of various thromboembolic diseases, such as venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and stroke.

Definition of indicator

The proportion of recipients of anticoagulant drugs describes the number of people who receive anticoagulant drugs per 100 inhabitants in the observed calendar year.
An age-standardized proportion is calculated, which allows mutual comparison of populations with different age structures.

Unit of measure

Calculation of the indicator

The proportion of recipients of anticoagulant medication is the ratio between the number of persons who received at least one prescription for anticoagulant medication within the observed calendar year and the number of all residents in the middle of the same year, multiplied by 100.
Medicines from the Anatomical-therapeutic-chemical classification of drugs of the group: B01A: Antithrombotics are taken into account as anticoagulant drugs in the calculation.
Recipients of anti-clotting drugs
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The direct standardization method is used for standardization, where the Slovenian population from 2014 is used as the standard population.

Data sources for Slovenia

Outpatient Prescription Drug Database, National Institute of Public Health.
Population, Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia.

Time availability

Men in literature

<ol>
<li>Golnik Clinic ( <a href="http://www.klinika-golnik.si/uploads/klinika-golnik-%20files/golniski_simpozij_2011_klinicna_farmacija_zbornik_prispevkov%20.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.klinika-golnik.si/uploads/klinika-golnik-files/golniski_simpozij_2011_klinicna_farmacija_zbornik_prispevkov.pdf</a> ).</li>
<li>Topli&scaron;ek J, Mavri A, Vene N. Manual for handling patients in the anticoagulation clinic. Internal department SB Novo mesto Section for anticoagulation treatment and prevention of thromboembolic diseases at the Association for Vascular Diseases, Slovenian Medical Association. Available on 26 October 2015 from the website: <a href="https://www.sb-nm.si/Portals/0/Content/Prirocnik.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.sb-nm.si/Portals/0/Content/Prirocnik.pdf</a> .</li>
<li>National Institute of Public Health ( <a href="http://www.nijz.si/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.nijz.si/</a> ).</li>
<li>Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia ( <a href="http://www.stat.si/StatWeb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.stat.si/StatWeb</a> ).</li>
</ol>

Notes

Recipients of anticoagulant drugs include people who receive anticoagulant drugs for both therapeutic and preventive reasons.

Health status

Prepared by: Metka Zaletel 
Date of last modification: September 2016

Residents and community

Prepared by: Mojca Simončič and Metka Zaletel 
Date of last change: January 2018

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Date of last change: September 2016

Prepared by: Mojca Simončič 
Date of last change: March 2017

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Date of last modification: September 2016

Health risk factors

Prepared by: Gregor Starc, Kristina Orožen 
Date of last change: September 2016

Prepared by: Tina Lesnik 
Date of last change: March 2021

Prepared by: Andreja Belščak 
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Prepared by: Mateja Rok Simon and Tina Zupanič 
Date of last change: March 2017

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Date of last modification: March 2019

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Date of last change: March 2021

Prepared by: Martin Ranfl, Jona Bambič 
Date of last change: November 2017

Prepared by: Victoria Zakrajšek, Tatjana Kofol Bric 
Date of last change: March 2019

Prepared by: Jasmina Staroveški Anderlič 
Date of last change: March 2020

Prepared by: Victoria Zakrajšek 
Date of last change: November 2021

Prepared by: Victoria Zakrajšek 
Date of last change: March 2023

Prepared by: Tatjana Kofol Bric 
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Preventive

Prepared by: Victoria Zakrajšek and Sonja Tomšič 
Date of last change: March 2017

Prepared by: Bonia Miljavac 
Date of last change: March 2017

Prepared by: Sonja Tomšič 
Date of last change: November 2019

Prepared by: Sonja Tomšič 
Date of last change: March 2021

Prepared by: Victoria Zakrajšek 
Date of last change: March 2017

Prepared by: Aleš Korošec 
Date of last change: September 2016

Prepared by: Tatjana Kofol Bric 
Date of last change: March 2019

Prepared by: Aleš Korošec and Sonja Tomšič 
Date of last change: September 2016

Prepared by: Mojca Simončič and Metka Zaletel 
Date of last change: October 2019

Prepared by: Kristina Orožen 
Date of last change: March 2019

Prepared by: Tatjana Kofol Bric, Jona Bambič 
Date of last change: March 2018

Prepared by: Victoria Zakrajšek, Tatjana Kofol Bric 
Date of last change: February 2020

Prepared by: Ema Ahačič 
Date of last change: April 2023

Prepared by: Ema Ahačič 
Date of last change: March 2023

Mortality

Prepared by: Sonja Tomšič, Tatjana Kofol Bric 
Date of last change: March 2019

Prepared by: Sonja Tomšič 
Date of last change: March 2019

Prepared by: Tina Lesnik 
Date of last change: March 2019

Prepared by: Tina Lesnik 
Date of last change: March 2020