Article

Patient INR self-testing

Roche Diagnostics
Published on January 30, 2020 | 8 min read
Coagulation self-monitoring

The benefits of patient self-testing

Patient self-testing gives your patients the freedom to test their INR from anywhere and at anytime with immediate results that are comparable to those from the laboratory.1,2 This allows your patients to know their INR value within about one minute from administering their self-test, and the possibilty to discuss the adjustment of their dose directly with you.

Best practice guidelines recommend patient self-management over outpatient INR monitoring for stable patients on long-term VKA therapy who show motivation and competency in self-care strategies.3-5

CoaguChek® systems offer a holistic solution that can help you improve patient care, improve workflow and reduce healthcare costs.

Improve patient care and satisfaction

Patients who self-test and manage their own INR spend more time in their therapeutic range7-9 and have fewer very high or low INR values10 compared with VKA patients who are tested in the laboratory or anticoagulation clinic.

This is associated with:

  • Fewer thromboembolic events with no increase in the risk of major bleeding7,11,12
  • Lower mortality risk7,13,14
  • Better treatment satisfaction15-17
  • Improved patient quality of life8,16,17
Care and satisfaction

Engage your patients and improve adherence

  • Patients with long-term medication needs for chronic conditions are more likely to adhere to their therapy when engaged in their own care19-22
  • They may also have improved health outcomes and care experiences compared with those who are not engaged23,24
  • Self-management engages and motivates patients to become actively involved in their own healthcare25
Engagement and motivation

Reduce healthcare costs

  • When achieving an average time in therapeutic range (TTR) of 78%, patient self-management (PSM) in VKA patients can reduce treatment cost per patient compared to direct oral anticoagulation (DOAC) treatment options 26
  • Patient self management (PSM) can reduce healthcare costs over time compared with usual care and care in the anticoagulation clinic27-29
  • Cost savings with PSM are achieved by increasing the time spent in the therapeutic range, thereby reducing the number of treatment complications27,30
Reduce healthcare costs

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    Contributors

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    Roche Diagnostics

    Roche Diagnostics is a division of Roche, developing and integrating diagnostic solutions that address today’s healthcare challenges while anticipating tomorrow’s needs. In more than 100 countries, we provide one of the industry’s most comprehensive in vitro diagnostics portfolios spanning molecular diagnostics, clinical chemistry and immunoassays, tissue diagnostics, Point of Care testing, patient self-testing, next-generation sequencing, laboratory automation and IT, as well as digital health and decision-support solutions.

    Our articles are authored by Roche Diagnostics subject matter experts, drawing on collective expertise across multiple disciplines to provide reliable insights for healthcare professionals worldwide.

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    References 

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    2. Ryan et al. (2010). Int J Lab Hematol 32, e26–33
    3. Holbrook et al (2012). Chest 141, e152S–e184s
    4. Jennings et al (2014). Br J Haematol 167, 600–607
    5. CADTH Optimal Use Report, No. 3.1C. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2014 Jul
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    7. Heneghan et al. (2016). Cochrane Database Syst Rev 7, CD003839
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    20. Kirchhof et al. (2016). Eur Heart J 37, 2893-2962
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    24. Hibbard et al. (2015). Med Care Res Rev 72, 324–337
    25. Burgwinkle et al. (2008). Managed Care 17, 1–8
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    27. Sharma et al. (2015). BMJ Open 5, e007758
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    29. Medical Advisory Secretariat (2009). Ontario Health Technology Assessment Series 9:12. Available at www.hqontario.ca/english/providers/program/mas/tech/reviews/pdf/rev_poc_20090928.pdf [Accessed: May 2023]
    30. Bloomfield et al. (2011). Ann Intern Med 154, 472–482