Key points
- Almost one third of inpatient epistaxis patients take oral
anticoagulants (OAC) with an upward trend. These are either vitamin K
antagonists (VKA) or direct anticoagulants (DOAC).
- The proportion of DOAC epistaxis patients is continually rising.
- Epistaxis patients taking DOACs have a more favourable outcome
compared to patients taking VKAs because they spend less time in
hospital and are more likely to have anterior than posterior
epistaxis, which is easier to control.
- No significant differences exist between the two groups with regard to
recurrence rates, admission rates, the need for transfusion, or
surgical intervention.