Open AccessAnticoagulation practice patterns in COVID‐19: A global survey
Author(s) -
Rosovsky Rachel P.,
Sanfilippo Kristen M.,
Wang Tzu Fei,
Rajan Sandeep K.,
Shah Surbhi,
Martin Karlyn A.,
Ní Áinle Fionnuala,
Huisman Menno,
Hunt Beverley J.,
Kahn Susan R.,
Kevane Barry,
Lee Agnes Y. Y.,
McLintock Claire,
Baumann Kreuziger Lisa
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2475-0379
DOI - 10.1002/rth2.12414
Subject(s) - medicine , pulmonary embolism , covid-19 , coagulopathy , incidence (geometry) , complication , population , thrombosis , venous thrombosis , intensive care medicine , emergency medicine , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , physics , environmental health , optics
Background Best practice for prevention, diagnosis, and management of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is unknown due to limited published data in this population. Objectives We aimed to assess current global practice and experience in management of COVID‐19–associated coagulopathy to identify information to guide prospective and randomized studies. Methods Physicians were queried about their current approach to prophylaxis, diagnosis, and treatment of VTE in patients with COVID‐19 using an online survey tool distributed through multiple international organizations between April 10 and 14, 2020. Results Five hundred fifteen physicians from 41 countries responded. The majority of respondents (78%) recommended prophylactic anticoagulation for all hospitalized patients with COVID‐19, with most recommending use of low‐molecular‐weight heparin or unfractionated heparin. Significant practice variation was found regarding the need for dose escalation of anticoagulation outside the setting of confirmed or suspected VTE. Respondents reported the use of bedside testing when unable to perform standard diagnostic imaging for diagnosis of VTE. Two hundred ninety‐one respondents reported observing thrombotic complications in their patients, with 64% noting that the complication was pulmonary embolism. Of the 44% of respondents who estimated incidence of thrombosis in patients with COVID‐19 in their hospital, estimates ranged widely from 1% to 50%. One hundred seventy‐four respondents noted bleeding complications (34% minor bleeding, 14% clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding, and 12% major bleeding). Conclusion Well‐designed epidemiologic studies are urgently needed to understand the incidence and risk factors of VTE and bleeding complications in patients with COVID‐19. Randomized clinical trials addressing use of anticoagulation are also needed.