A case control study investigating factors contributing to the risk of bleeding in patients receiving warfarin therapy [ 2007 - 2009 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof John Mcneil (Principal investigator) ,  Prof Michael Dooley ,  Prof Peter Cameron ,  Prof Rory Wolfe

Brief description Warfarin is a drug commonly used in the elderly to prevent blood clots. Blood clots can lead to stroke. While a very effective drug, it is also a dangerous drug because it can lead to thin blood which makes it more likely that they will bleed. For this reason, the drug should be closely monitored. We know that many people do suffer catastrophic bleeds because the blood is too thin directly as a result of taking warfarin. Some of the reasons for these bleeds are well known; they may be taking drugs that interact with warfarin, they may have problems with their liver or kidney which affects the body's ability to get rid of it, they may have suffered a fall, to name a few. Studies done overseas have suggested that people are more likely to have a bleed if they do not know how to properly manage their tablets, if they are depressed, if they have no helpers to support them or if their care is not well organised. In Australia, we do not know what impact the organisation of care has on whether a person's warfarin is well managed. We do not know the impact that depression has on their care, or whether people are more likely to have pooorly controlled warfarin if they have few community ties. These are importnat questions to answer, so that we can make significant inroads into preventing death and disability from warfarin.

Funding Amount $AUD 572,242.00

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant