Warfarin Anticoagulation in Patients in Sub-Saharan Africa

This research programme aims to translate expertise in warfarin anticoagulation from resource-rich to low and middle income countries (LMIC)settings with the goal of improving patient health outcomes. An observational study which will be used to develop warfarin dosing algorithms - the ultimate aim will be to ascertain whether these algorithms increase time in the therapeutic range, reduce bleeding and thrombotic risks, and clinic visits for International Normalised ratio (INR) monitoring. Two algorithms will be developed: the first will take into account clinical and geographical factors ("clinical algorithm"), while the second will also incorporate genetic factors in addition to the clinical and geographical factors ("genetic algorithm"). Patients will be recruited from sites in rural and urban Uganda, and in Cape Town, South Africa, to develop a clinical dosing algorithm. It is important to note that there is a wealth of literature data which will be used to define the clinical data that needs to be collected from these patients. To identify genetic factors in African patients, Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) will be undertaken and any novel factors incorporated into the genetic algorithm - the percentage variation in warfarin dosing explained by the genetic algorithm will be compared with the clinical algorithm.