Characterization of anticoagulated patients in a Latin American country: indications, treatment patterns, and complications

INTRODUCTION: Thromboembolic disorders remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Although anticoagulation therapy (AT) has reshaped practice worldwide, real-world data on AT use and outcomes in Latin America, particularly Colombia, are scarce. To bridge this gap, we established the Registro Colombiano de Clínicas de Anticoagulación (RECCANT). OBJECTIVE: To describe the sociodemographic, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics of anticoagulated patients managed in multiple healthcare centers in Colombia. METHODS: We performed a prospective, observational, and multicenter study of adults receiving oral or parenteral anticoagulation among several Colombian institutions (2023–2025). Consecutive outpatients with an anticipated therapy duration ≥ 3 months were enrolled. Sociodemographic and clinical data were recorded prospectively. This interim analysis describes the first 2,000 patients recruited from nine institutions. RESULTS: Of the first 2,000 recruited patients, 58.2% were women, with a median age of 65 years (IQR 49–77). Hypertension (37.1%) and dyslipidemia (25.8%) were the most prevalent comorbidities. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) was the leading indication for anticoagulation (70.1%), followed by atrial fibrillation (14.0%). In terms of agents used, apixaban was most frequently used (37.6%), followed by rivaroxaban (26.9%), enoxaparin (17.7%), and warfarin (15.0%). Among 1,640 chronic and recent users, 152 patients (9.3%) experienced complications after AT initiation: 67.1% hemorrhagic, 27.0% thromboembolic, and 5.9% both. Major bleeding occurred in 2.6% of these patients and in 38.7% of those who experienced hemorrhagic complications. Gastrointestinal bleeding (33.3%) and ischemic stroke (46.0%) were the most frequent hemorrhagic and thromboembolic complications, respectively. CONCLUSION: RECCANT reveals a relatively young, highly comorbid anticoagulated population in Colombia, with VTE as the main indication. High complication rates, particularly hemorrhagic events, underscore the need to strengthen existing anticoagulation care to ensure safer and more effective therapy. These findings are intended to provide preliminary insights into anticoagulation patterns among patients treated in specialized anticoagulation clinics in Colombia and may also be relevant for other Latin American settings.