Which of the following parameters is essential to monitor for a patient on anticoagulants?

Monitoring the International Normalized Ratio (INR) is essential for patients on anticoagulants, particularly those taking warfarin. The INR is a standardized measure that indicates how well and how quickly blood clots. Anticoagulants aim to prevent blood clots, and understanding the INR helps clinicians ensure that the patient's blood remains at an appropriate level of anticoagulation—neither too high, which increases the risk of bleeding, nor too low, which may lead to clot formation.

Regular INR monitoring allows healthcare providers to adjust the dosage of the anticoagulant medication based on the patient's individual response, dietary factors, and any concurrent medications that may affect coagulation. This personalized approach is critical for effective anticoagulation therapy and patient safety.

While monitoring platelet count is important in some contexts, particularly related to heparin therapy or certain conditions that can affect platelet levels, the INR is more directly correlated with the anticoagulation effects of warfarin. Additionally, while prothrombin time (PT) is also an important measure of coagulation, the INR standardizes this measure against a control and is widely used to guide treatment. A1C levels, which measure long-term glucose control in diabetes, are not relevant to antico