What is the MHRA advice on warfarin and other anticoagulants during the COVID-19 pandemic?
The MHRA advice on warfarin and other anticoagulants during the COVID-19 pandemic includes reports of supratherapeutic anticoagulation with warfarin, and recommends that healthcare professionals perform manual pulse palpation to assess for the presence of an irregular pulse if there is a suspicion of atrial fibrillation. They should also perform a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) to make a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation if an irregular pulse is detected, and in people with suspected paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undetected by 12-lead ECG recording, use a 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitor if asymptomatic episodes are suspected or symptomatic episodes are less than 24 hours apart, and use an ambulatory ECG monitor, event recorder or other ECG technology for a period appropriate to detect atrial fibrillation if symptomatic episodes are more than 24 hours apart.