Dataset Information

Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism and Effect of Anticoagulant Dosing in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by coagulopathy and thrombotic events. We examined factors associated with development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in COVID-19 and to discern if higher dose of anticoagulation was beneficial in these patients.

Methods

This study involves an observational study of prospectively collected data in the setting of a large community hospital in a rural setting in Northeast Georgia with COVID-19 between March 1, 2020 and February 5, 2021. Anticoagulation dose (none, standard, intermediate, and therapeutic dosages) was studied in adult patients (≥ 18 years). We constructed multivariable logistic regression model to examine the association of clinical characteristics with VTE. To examine the effect of dose of anticoagulation in preventing VTE, we used inverse probability weighted regression adjustment.

Results

Of the 4,645 patients with COVID-19, 251 (5.4%) patients were found to have VTE. Of these, 91 had pulmonary embolism, 148 had deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and 12 had both. A total of 129 of VTE cases were diagnosed at admission. Of all admissions, 12.9% did not receive any DVT prophylaxis, 70.4% received prophylactic dose, 1.3% received intermediate dose and 15.5% received therapeutic dose. Male gender (odds ratio (OR): 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0 - 2.4, P = 0.04) and Black race (OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2 - 3.4, P = 0.01), along with higher levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and D-dimer were associated with higher odds of developing VTE. Patients receiving steroids had lower rates of VTE (3.9% vs. 8.3%, P < 0.001). Use of intermediate or therapeutic anticoagulation was not associated with lower odds of developing VTE. However, patients on therapeutic anticoagulation had lower odds of in hospital mortality when compared to standard dose (OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.27 - 0.80, P = 0.006).

Conclusions

In COVID-19, D-dimer and LDH can be useful in predicting VTE. Steroids appear to have some protective role in development of VTE. Therapeutic anticoagulation did not result in lower rates of VTE but was associated with in-hospital mortality.

SUBMITTER: Kumar G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8425807 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:ImportanceVenous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication of COVID-19. It is not well understood how hospitals have managed VTE prevention and the effect of prevention strategies on mortality.ObjectiveTo characterize frequency, variation across hospitals, and change over time in VTE prophylaxis and treatment-dose anticoagulation in patients hospitalized for COVID-19, as well as the association of anticoagulation strategies with in-hospital and 60-day mortality.Design, setting, and participantsThis cohort study of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 used a pseudorandom sample from 30 US hospitals in the state of Michigan participating in a collaborative quality initiative. Data analyzed were from patients hospitalized between March 7, 2020, and June 17, 2020. Data were analyzed through March 2021.ExposuresNonadherence to VTE prophylaxis (defined as missing ≥2 days of VTE prophylaxis) and receipt of treatment-dose or prophylactic-dose anticoagulants vs no anticoagulation during hospitalization.Main outcomes and measuresThe effect of nonadherence and anticoagulation strategies on in-hospital and 60-day mortality was assessed using multinomial logit models with inverse probability of treatment weighting.ResultsOf a total 1351 patients with COVID-19 included (median [IQR] age, 64 [52-75] years; 47.7% women, 48.9% Black patients), only 18 (1.3%) had a confirmed VTE, and 219 (16.2%) received treatment-dose anticoagulation. Use of treatment-dose anticoagulation without imaging ranged from 0% to 29% across hospitals and increased over time (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.46; 95% CI, 1.31-1.61 per week). Of 1127 patients who ever received anticoagulation, 392 (34.8%) missed 2 or more days of prophylaxis. Missed prophylaxis varied from 11% to 61% across hospitals and decreased markedly over time (aOR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82-0.97 per week). VTE nonadherence was associated with higher 60-day (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.31; 95% CI, 1.03-1.67) but not in-hospital mortality (aHR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.91-1.03). Receiving any dose of anticoagulation (vs no anticoagulation) was associated with lower in-hospital mortality (only prophylactic dose: aHR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.26-0.52; any treatment dose: aHR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.25-0.58). However, only the prophylactic dose of anticoagulation remained associated with lower mortality at 60 days (prophylactic dose: aHR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.51-0.90; treatment dose: aHR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.63-1.35).Conclusions and relevanceThis large, multicenter cohort of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, found evidence of rapid dissemination and implementation of anticoagulation strategies, including use of treatment-dose anticoagulation. As only prophylactic-dose anticoagulation was associated with lower 60-day mortality, prophylactic dosing strategies may be optimal for patients hospitalized with COVID-19.