Enoxaparin dosing after discharge from US hospitals in patients with total knee replacement

Prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism after total knee replacement (TKR) is standard of care. Two enoxaparin regimens are approved for thromboprophylaxis, one in the United States (30 mg twice daily [bid]) and another in the rest of the world (40 mg once daily [qd]). Data on frequency of utilization of these 2 regimens at discharge from US hospitals after TKR are not available.

We conducted a retrospective/descriptive analysis of the PharMetrics claims database to estimate the frequency of utilization of enoxaparin 40 mg qd compared to 30 mg bid after discharge for TKR from US hospitals.

Of the 44 552 TKR patients identified, 7198 had an outpatient claim for enoxaparin within 14 days postoperatively. The 40 mg strength of enoxaparin was prescribed more commonly (~51%) than the 30 mg strength (~46%).

Enoxaparin 40 mg qd is prescribed in approximately the same proportion of patients as the current Food and Drug Administration-approved regimen of 30 mg bid.