[A five-year follow-up of 115 patients treated with anticoagulants. Bleeding complications may be underestimated].

The prevalence of anticoagulant treatment in Sweden has increased in recent years. However, such treatment may be associated with a risk of serious complications. At 5-year follow-up of 115 primary care patients treated with anticoagulants in 1992, 39 were found to have died, eight of anticoagulant-induced bleeding complications (six of intracranial haemorrhages, and two after profuse gastro-intestinal haemorrhages). In only two of these cases, had an adverse reaction been diagnosed. The fatal complication rate was estimated to be 2.1 per cent per treatment year. There were 17 major complications requiring hospitalisation, the estimated rate being 4.4 per cent per treatment year. Three patients died of thromboembolic episodes during anticoagulant treatment, and a further three after completed treatment.