COVID-19 is associated with a blood clot. Anticoagulants increase survival

Wednesday, May 06, 2020 (HealthDay News) -As more evidence shows that COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk of dangerous blood clots, a new study improves survival by giving patients anticoagulants. It suggests that it can be improved.

“The use of anticoagulants should probably be considered to improve outcomes if patients are admitted to the ER and are positive for COVID-19,” said Physician at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Dr. Valentin Fuster said in a research, hospital news release.

His team found that the group of patients studied had a lower major risk-bleeding-from the use of thinner. “But each case should be assessed individually to explain the potential bleeding risk,” emphasized Huster.

Over the past few weeks, doctors who care for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have warned after young patients develop life-threatening blood clots and strokes. A recent study by the Ikhan School of Medicine in Mount Sinai found that many hospitalized COVID-19 patients had high levels of potentially life-threatening blood clots.

New York City Mount Sinai Health System Doctor New England Medical Journal.

Patients ranged in age from 33 to 49 years, and stroke was very young.

Two other large health systems at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and NYU Langone Health in New York City have also reported COVID-related stroke, according to the report. Washington Post.

Carlos del Rio says coagulation associated with COVID-19 is so pronounced that at the beginning of treatment, “some people are starting to say,” anyone who comes to the hospital should wear it. ” . Professor of Infectious Diseases at Emory University in Atlanta.

Will such interventions help? To investigate, Fuster’s group investigated the outcomes of approximately 2,800 COVID-19 patients admitted to five hospitals in Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.

Of these patients, 28% received complete treatment with blood diluent, usually in the amount given to people with or suspected of having a blood clot.

Anticoagulant therapy has been associated with improved survival of COVID-19 patients in and out of intensive care, according to the researchers.

Investigators report that nearly 63% of ventilated patients not treated with anticoagulants died, while 29% of drug-treated patients died. ing. Of the patients who died on the ventilator, those who did not receive the anticoagulant died 9 days later, and those who received the drug died 21 days later.

Of all patients who died, those who received anticoagulants died after spending an average of 21 days in the hospital, and those who did not receive an anticoagulant died in hospital for an average of 14 days.

Significantly, according to a study published on May 6, there was no significant difference in bleeding events between patients receiving or not receiving anticoagulants Journal of American Heart Association.

“This study shows that orally, subcutaneously, or intravenously administered anticoagulants can play a major role in the care of patients with COVID-19, which can lead to heart attack, stroke, and pulmonary embolism. May prevent possible fatal events related to coronavirus such as illness [clot in the lungs]].

Two doctors unrelated to the new study agreed that anticoagulants may be justified in many COVID-19 patients.

Already, New York City’s Lennox Hill Hospital is using anticoagulant therapy for COVID inpatients at high risk of thrombosis. [clots]”Dr. Varinder Singh, who teaches cardiology at Lennox Hill, said.

“This study is the first to confirm the benefits of anticoagulant therapy during acute illness, and larger trials are needed to confirm its conclusions and the best anticoagulant therapy strategies.”

Dr. Mitchell Weinberg teaches cardiology at Staten Island University Hospital, also in New York City. There is growing evidence that COVID-19 promotes blood clots, “there is concern that these patients are not being actively treated with anticoagulants adequately or early enough.”

But the routine use of blood thinners in these patients is still “controversial,” Weinberg emphasized.

“There is clearly a lot to learn about thrombosis in COVID patients. We are just beginning to scratch the surface,” Weinberg said.

For more information

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 (New Coronavirus Infection) (# If there is no character limit, add parentheses when first appearing.