Thromboembolism and anticoagulant therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: interim clinical guidance from the anticoagulation forum

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection that can, in severe cases, result in cytokine storm, systemic inflammatory response and coagulopathy that is prognostic of poor outcomes. While some, but not all, laboratory findings appear similar to sepsis-associated disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC), COVID-19- induced coagulopathy (CIC) appears to be more prothrombotic than hemorrhagic. It has been postulated that CIC may be an uncontrolled immunothrombotic response to COVID-19, and there is growing evidence of venous and arterial thromboembolic events in these critically ill patients. Clinicians around the globe are challenged with rapidly identifying reasonable diagnostic, monitoring and anticoagulant strategies to safely and effectively manage these patients. Thoughtful use of proven, evidence-based approaches must be carefully balanced with integration of rapidly emerging evidence and growing experience. The goal of this document is to provide guidance from the Anticoagulation Forum, a North American organization of anticoagulation providers, regarding use of anticoagulant therapies in patients with COVID-19. We discuss in-hospital and post-discharge venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention, treatment of suspected but unconfirmed VTE, laboratory monitoring of COVID-19, associated anticoagulant therapies, and essential elements for optimized transitions of care specific to patients with COVID-19

Prevention of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients: current approaches and opportunities for improvement

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), a common complication in patients with cancer, is associated with increased risk of morbidity, mortality, and recurrent VTE. Risk factors for VTE in cancer patients include the type and stage of cancer, comorbidities, age, major surgery, and active chemotherapy. Evidence-based guidelines for thromboprophylaxis in cancer patients have been published: the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and American Society for Clinical Oncology guidelines recommend thromboprophylaxis for hospitalized cancer patients, while the American College of Chest Physician guidelines recommend thromboprophylaxis for surgical patients with cancer and bedridden cancer patients with an acute medical illness. Guidelines do not generally recommend routine thromboprophylaxis in ambulatory patients during chemotherapy, but there is evidence that some of these patients are at risk of VTE; some may be at higher risk while on active chemotherapy. Approaches are needed to identify those patients most likely to benefit from thromboprophylaxis, and, to this end, a risk assessment model has been developed and validated. Despite the benefits, many at-risk patients do not receive any thromboprophylaxis, or receive prophylaxis that is not compliant with guideline recommendations. Quality improvement initiatives have been developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Quality Forum, and Joint Commission to encourage closure of the gap between guideline recommendations and clinical practice for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of VTE in hospitalized patients. Health-care institutions and providers need to take seriously the burden of VTE, improve prophylaxis rates in patients with cancer, and address the need for prophylaxis across the patient continuum

Preventing venous thromboembolism following orthopedic surgery in the United States: impact of special populations on clinical outcomes

Clinical trials of anticoagulants often exclude special populations. We assessed the proportion of special populations in real-world orthopedic surgery and the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE)-related outcomes. Data on patients with hip (n = 11 483) or knee replacement (n = 19 390) were extracted from IMS’ PharMetrics Patient-Centric Database. There was high prevalence of patients aged ≥75 years (20.3%), CYP3A4-inhibitor use (21.5%), and chronic warfarin use (9.5%). Venous thromboembolism events were increased with each increasing year of age (hip: odds ratio [OR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-1.03; knee: OR 1.01, 95%CI = 1.00-1.02) and chronic warfarin use (hip: OR 1.56, 95%CI = 1.13-2.17; knee: OR 1.33, 95%CI = 1.03-1.72); in hip patients with renal insufficiency (OR1.61, 95%CI=1.11-2.36); and in knee patients with atrial fibrillation (OR 1.41, 95%CI = 1.06-1.88). Major bleeding was higher in hip patients with hepatic impairment (OR 21.99, 95%CI = 2.04-236.62), each increasing year of age (OR 1.08, 95%CI = 1.01-1.15), and chronic warfarin use (OR 7.11, 95%CI = 1.16-43.46). Special populations are prevalent in real-world orthopedic surgery, which may impact VTE-related outcomes