[Compliance of patients undergoing thromboprophylaxis with enoxaparin: the COMFORT study]

Venous thromboembolism and subsequent pulmonary embolism are frequent and sometimes fatal complications in patients after surgical interventions. To prevent thromboembolisms an effective prophylaxis is necessary and outpatients in particular need adequate compliance. The aim of the prospective non-interventional study COMFORT was to analyze 8,091 outpatients after surgical and orthopedic interventions with different risk profiles with respect to factors affecting patient compliance in a positive or negative way. The follow-up period was 14 days and 92.5 % of the patients took the medication for the prescribed duration, 2.1 % (n = 166) terminated the medication too early and no information was available for 5.9 % (n = 442) of the patients. The reasons given for the premature termination of the injections were no more need for prophylaxis and end of medication by order of the physician due to mobilization or adverse events. Of the patients 73 % stated that the administartion was simple and without any problems and the majority of patients recognized injection as the administration mode of low molecular weight heparin to be the most important medication. The findings of this study can contribute to a better understanding of patient compliance.