Both adherence to, and persistence with, oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is poor, a UK study has found. The authors analysed data from The Health Information Network database between 2011 and 2016. Adherence (taking drugs as prescribed) for all OACs was 55.2%. One-year persistence (continuation of drugs) for all OACs was 65.9%. Although the direct oral anticoagulants generally fared better than vitamin K antagonists both adherence and persistence were suboptimal for all OACs.