From: Using highly variable warfarin dosing to identify patients at risk for adverse events
 | Variable | Definition |
---|---|---|
1 | Diet | Any mention of "greens", specific foods high in vitamin K, and dietary content of vitamin K. DOES NOT INCLUDE statements that the vitamin K content of the diet is unchanged. |
2 | Dietary Supplements | Any mention of multivitamins, Ensure, Boost, Slimfast, etc. as they relate to vitamin K intake. DOES NOT INCLUDE simply listing a multivitamin in the medication list. |
3 | Adherence | Any mention of problems with adherence to pill-taking, including unauthorized self-adjustment of doses and memory issues. DOES NOT INCLUDE dose confusion after a hospital stay and DOES NOT INCLUDE aspects of adherence (diet, lab follow up, etc.) beyond pill-taking. |
4 | Hospital or Nursing Home Stay | Any mention of a hospital or nursing home stay EXCEPT for CHF (because that has its own variable - see below) |
5 | Nausea and Vomiting | Any mention |
6 | Decreased PO Intake or Decreased Appetite | Any mention |
7 | Diarrhea | Any mention |
8 | Decompensated CHF | Any mention of fluid overload, fluid retention, edema, pulmonary edema. Any titration of lasix doses, trending of weight regarding fluid status, use of metolazone (i.e. zaroxolyn), or any obvious CHF regimen. Any hospital admissions for fluid overload. |
9 | Alcohol | Any mention of alcohol except "denies." Exception - one serving per day or less does not count |
10 | Amiodarone | Any mention of amiodarone or its brand names "pacerone" or "cordarone." |
11 | Acetaminophen | Any mention of acetaminophen, products containing acetaminophen. Includes the abbreviation "APAP." |
12 | NSAIDS/COX-2 Inhibitors | Any mention at all, including mention in the medication list. |
13 | Procedures | Any mention of a procedure in conjunction with a dose reduction or a "hold" of warfarin - even if the procedure is ultimately cancelled. |
14 | Cancer | Any mention of cancer, with or without specific therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation, etc. DOES NOT INCLUDE a mere history of cancer. |
15 | Missed Appointments | Any recorded missed appointments - unless due to hospitalization (which is a different variable). |
16 | Systemic Corticosteroids | Any mention. DOES NOT INCLUDE joint injections, skin creams, etc. |
17 | Alternative Medications | Any mention - including but not limited to saw palmetto, St. John's Wort, Echinacea, Coenzyme Q10, etc. |
18 | Antibacterial Antibiotics | Any mention - must be systemic therapy, not local (such as skin creams, etc.) |