Clinical profile and prognosis in patients on oral anticoagulation before admission for COVID-19

José Miguel Rivera-Caravaca1, Iván J Núñez-Gil2, David Vivas2

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, University of Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB-Arrixaca), CIBERCV, Murcia, Spain.

Insights

Patients on oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy admitted for COVID-19 had higher mortality risk. Respiratory insufficiency, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and comorbidities were key risk factors for death in these patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents significant mortality risks, especially for individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.
  • A subset of COVID-19 patients are on oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy, but their clinical characteristics and prognosis during hospitalization remain understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical profile, prognosis, and mortality risk factors of COVID-19 patients on OAC therapy at hospital admission.
  • To compare the outcomes of COVID-19 patients on OAC versus those not on OAC.

Main Methods:

  • Subanalysis of the international HOPE COVID-19 registry, including patients on OAC at hospital admission for COVID-19.
  • Propensity score matching and multivariate Cox regression analysis to assess mortality and identify risk factors.

Main Results:

  • 110 patients on OAC were included; 67.9% died during hospitalization, a significantly higher rate than patients without prior OAC (HR 1.53).
  • Key mortality risk factors in OAC patients included respiratory insufficiency (HR 6.02), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) (HR 2.29), and higher comorbidity burden (Short-Form CCI, HR 1.24).

Conclusions:

  • COVID-19 patients on OAC therapy at admission face lower survival and increased mortality risk compared to non-OAC patients.
  • High comorbidity prevalence is noted in OAC patients. Respiratory insufficiency, SIRS, and comorbidity burden identify OAC patients at higher risk of mortality.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants01:18

Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants

Oral anticoagulants are vital tools in preventing and treating blood clotting disorders. This diverse class of medications can be categorized as vitamin K antagonists, exemplified by warfarin, and direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs), such as dabigatran, as well as factor Xa inhibitors, including rivaroxaban.
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
1.7K
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care01:29

Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care

Venous thrombosis requires effective prevention and treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce potential complications.Prevention StrategiesHealthcare providers must prioritize preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) for all adult patients upon admission. Interventions depend on bleeding and thrombosis risk, medical history, current medications, diagnoses, planned procedures, and patient preferences. Patients on bed rest should change positions every two hours and, if not...
165
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins01:30

Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

Hemostasis is a crucial process that prevents excessive blood loss from damaged blood vessels. It involves various mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion and activation, and fibrin formation. The importance of each mechanism depends on the type of vessel injury. In contrast, thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a blood clot within the blood vessels, leading to potential complications if the clot obstructs blood flow. Thrombosis can be caused by increased coagulability of the...
1.3K
Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care01:29

Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care

Diagnosing Pulmonary EmbolismDiagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) involves clinical assessment and advanced imaging tests. The preferred diagnostic tool is the spiral (helical) CT scan or CT angiography (CTA), which uses intravenous contrast media to visualize the pulmonary vasculature and identify emboli.A ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan is an alternative for patients unable to receive contrast media. This scan includes both perfusion and ventilation scanning. Perfusion scanning involves...
143
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:20

Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key difference between Superficial Vein Thrombosis (SVT) and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) lies in their location and severity.Clinical ManifestationsSVT typically presents with localized pain, tenderness, and redness along the course of a superficial vein, often accompanied by a palpable, cord-like structure under the skin. This condition is usually less dangerous than DVT but can be uncomfortable and may lead to complications such as cellulitis or, rarely, a clot extension into the deep...
163
Venous Thrombosis IV: Nursing Management01:30

Venous Thrombosis IV: Nursing Management

Nursing management begins with a thorough assessment of the patient's health history. Key factors include trauma to veins, peripherally inserted central catheters, varicose veins, recent pregnancy or childbirth, surgery, bacteremia, prolonged bed rest, atrial fibrillation, COPD, heart failure, cancer, coagulation disorders, myocardial infarction, spinal cord injury, stroke, prolonged travel, recent bone fractures, and dehydration. Review medication intake, particularly oral contraceptives,...
124