Venous Thromboembolism Risk Low to Moderate in COVID-19 Patients

A new analysis suggests that in patients with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), the risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) remained low to moderate and did not increase relative to those without COVID-19 or who had flu.

“Venous thromboembolism is a potentially fatal complication of COVID-19 infection and thromboprophylaxis should be balanced against risk of bleeding,” the researchers wrote. “This study aimed to examine risks of VTE and major bleeding in hospitalized and community-managed COVID-19 patients compared with control populations.”

The population-based study, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, included 9,460 participants who had COVID-19, 226,510 participants who were COVID-19 negative, and 16,281 participants who had influenza. The researchers focused on the 30-day risks of VTE and major bleeding in COVID-positive patients compared to COVID-negative patients, with the influenza population as a third external cohort. The examined medical records of all COVID-19 patients at six centers in Denmark.

According to the study results, the 30-day risk for VTE was 0.4% among COVID-19 participants (16% hospitalized), 0.3% in COVID-19-negative participants (12% hospitalized) and 1.0% in those with influenza (59% hospitalized). VTE risks were higher but comparable in hospitalized patients in all three groups (1.5% vs. 1.8% vs. 1.5%, respectively). Major bleeding was present in 0.5% of all COVID-19 participants (2.3% in those hospitalized). Of the 582 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, VTE was reported in 4% (major bleeding, 0.4%). In ICU patients, VTE risk was 7% and major bleeding was 11%.

“Among people with COVID-19 infection in a population-based setting, VTE risks were low to moderate and were not substantially increased compared withCOVID-19 test-negative and influenza patients,” the authors concluded. “Risk of severe bleeding was low for ward patients, but mirrored VTE risk in the intensive care setting.”

Not that this isn't valuable data, but weird to see this in CID 🤔https://t.co/HJOfOFC2Sp

— Eric Wenzler (@TheIDApprentice) January 12, 2021

Follow-up #8

VTE in patients with COVID-19: A population-based cohort study. VTE risks were low to moderate and were not substantially increased compared with SARS-CoV-2 test-negative and influenza patients. https://t.co/HsYFU6G8O8

— Martin Juhl (@MartinJuhl2) January 16, 2021

Congratulations. Another great collaborative effort in the middle of #COVID19dk #vte still poses a sign problem for patients – also post/late Covid @OUHhospital @kim_brixen https://t.co/Vqsal3iXhs

— Anne Oevrehus (@Oevrehusdk) January 7, 2021