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TORONTO – The use of blood thinners by patients with COVID-19, either before they become infected with the disease or after, can cut deaths by nearly half, new research shows.
The study, published in the open-access, peer-reviewed journal EClinicalMedicine, looked at ways to reduce coagulation and COVID-19-related hospitalizations through the use of prescribed anticoagulants.
“We know that COVID-19 causes blood clots that can kill patients,” said Dr. Sameh Hozayen, lead author of the study and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, in a report. Press release. “But do blood thinners save lives in COVID-19? Blood thinners are medicines prescribed to prevent blood clots in patients who have had a blood clot in the lungs or legs in the past. They also prevent blood clots in the brain secondary to abnormal heart rhythms, like atrial. Blood thinners are the standard treatment for these conditions, which is why we looked at the data to see if it had an impact on hospitalizations related to COVID-19.
“We already know that overwhelmed hospitals have a higher risk of death among their patients, so reducing hospitalizations can have a positive impact during a wave of COVID-19.”
The study also found that patients on anticoagulants before contracting the virus were admitted to hospital less often despite being on average older and suffering more chronic illnesses than their peers.
The study evaluated 6,195 adult COVID-19 patients, including 598 who were immediately hospitalized and 5,597 who were treated on an outpatient basis, between March 4 and August 28, 2020. Of the outpatients, 160 were already on anticoagulants and 331 were eventually hospitalized. . Ambulatory patients who were taking anticoagulants at the time of diagnosis had a 43 percent reduced risk of hospitalization.
Hospitalized patients also benefited from anticoagulants regardless of the type or dose of medication used.
According to Dr Hozayen, most medical centers around the world currently have protocols for starting COVID-19 patients on anticoagulants upon admission to hospital. It is easy to track prescription drug use in hospital, but among those who have been prescribed blood thinners in the past and may wish to benefit from this study, one of the challenges is getting them to join. to their drug regimen.
“Unfortunately, about half of patients who are prescribed anticoagulants for blood clots in the legs, lungs, abnormal heart rhythms or other reasons do not take them. By increasing adherence for people already prescribed blood thinners, we can potentially reduce the harmful effects of COVID-19, “he said. “Aside from COVID-19, the use of blood thinners has been shown to be life-saving for people with blood clotting disorders.”
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