Thromboembolic complications in patients with COVID-19

Coronavirus disease-19 has emerged as a devastating global public health crisis. An increased frequency of arterial and venous thrombosis was observed in COVID-19 infection. The objective of this study was to describe the thromboembolic complications of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 and their evolution. A prospective single-center study was conducted that compared the characteristics, risk factors, thromboembolic event rate, hospital stay and mortality among patients admitted to intensive care or general ward. The mean age of population was 46 +/- 18 years, and 52% were female. The global rate of thromboembolic events was 4.4%, significantly higher in intensive unit patients (29% vs 1.4%; p < 0.001) despite the high use of prophylactic heparin (91.1% vs. 84.9%; p < 0.1). The independent predictive factors for the development of thromboembolic events were: age, D-dimer and creatinine. Of the patients admitted to intensive care, 45.1% required mechanical ventilation. Overall mortality was 4.3%, significantly higher in intensive care patients than in the general hospital ward (29% vs. 1.3%; p < 0.0001). Patients requiring hospitalization due to infection secondary to COVID-19 have a high rate of thromboembolic events despite the use of thromboprophylaxis with heparin, generating a negative prognostic impact on the survival of patients admitted to intensive care.