Effect of Routine Thromboprophylaxis with Low Molecular Weight Heparin
in Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is commonly complicated
with coagulopathy presented with venous thromboembolism and arterial
thromboses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of routine
thromboprophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) on clinical
outcomes including mortality and need for intensive care unit (ICU)
admission in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods: All confirmed
patients with COVID-19 hospitalized to COVID-19 dedicated wards, from
March 15 to May 15, 2020, were included in this retrospective cohort
study. Two groups of patients were established, according to the
non-routine and routine application of LMWH with therapeutic,
weight-based, anticoagulation dosing. Clinical, laboratory and treatment
data were collected, analyzed and compared between the two groups. A
logistic regression model was developed to assess the factors related to
in-hospital adverse outcomes. Results: A total of 1511 patients (797
men, median age 59.0 years) were retrospectively analyzed (Group
non-routine LMWH (n=828); group routine LMWH (n=683)). Multivariate
logistic regression analysis showed routine use of LMWH, favipiravir
administration, extreme values of WBC count, NLR, and troponin I as
factors independently associated with in-hospital adverse outcomes
(OR=0.25, 95% CI: 0.83-0.91; p<0.001 for routine use of
LMWH). Conclusion: Routine thromboprophylaxis with LMWH reduced
mortality and ICU admission in patients admitted with COVID-19
infection.