Chinese expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of coagulation dysfunction in COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Thrombosis and Hemostasis
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, originating in Wuhan, has caused a global health crisis.
• Severe COVID-19 cases exhibit a significant mortality rate, with coagulation dysfunction identified as a primary cause of death.
• There is an urgent need for standardized clinical guidance on managing COVID-19-associated coagulation issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of coagulation dysfunction in severe COVID-19.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for frontline clinicians managing critically ill COVID-19 patients.
• To address the critical gap in clinical management strategies for COVID-19-related coagulopathy.

Main Methods:

• Convening experts from the People's Liberation Army Professional Committee of Critical Care Medicine and the Chinese Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis.
• Reviewing clinical data and frontline experiences from the Wuhan COVID-19 epidemic.
• Synthesizing information to formulate consensus guidelines covering diagnosis, testing, and therapeutic interventions.

Main Results:

• The consensus addresses key aspects of COVID-19-related coagulation dysfunction, including pathophysiology and clinical presentation.
• It outlines appropriate diagnostic tests for assessing coagulation status in severe COVID-19.
• The consensus provides detailed recommendations on anticoagulation therapy, replacement therapy, supportive care, and preventive measures.

Conclusions:

• Coagulation dysfunction is a critical determinant of mortality in severe COVID-19.
• The developed consensus offers 18 actionable recommendations to guide clinical practice.
• Implementation of these guidelines aims to improve patient outcomes and reduce mortality in severe COVID-19 cases.