Reduce risk of death from COVID-19 with preventive therapy to thin blood

A recent study published in the journal BMJ showed that patients who received prophylactic anticoagulants within 24 hours of hospitalization with 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were less likely to die than those who did not. The research was conducted by researchers from the United Kingdom and the United States.

Since some deaths from COVID-19 are caused by blood clots that have developed in major veins and arteries, investigators believed that giving patients preventative anticoagulant therapy could help prevent these clots from forming, while providing antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects.

Investigators analyzed US Department of Veterans Affairs data from 4,297 patients, an average of 68 years old and admitted to hospitals with COVID-19 between March and July 2020. They estimated the effects of blood thinners, which were administered under little. after admission, in case of severe bleeding and risk of death.

The results of the study showed that the death rate after 30 days for those who received the treatment was 14.3% compared to 18.7% for those who did not. They observed a relative risk reduction of up to 34% and an absolute risk reduction of 4.4%. They also found that blood thinners did not pose a risk of serious bleeding.

Additionally, the greatest benefit appears to be among patients who were not admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) within 24 hours of being admitted to the hospital. Upon further analysis, they saw that the findings were unchanged, suggesting strong resistance to scrutiny.

Although the investigators behind the study recognized limitations due to the observational nature of the study, they said their findings “provide strong real-world evidence to support guidelines recommending the study. use of prophylactic anticoagulation as initial treatment for patients with covid-19 upon admission to hospital. . “