Prevalence of non-COVID-19 venous thromboembolism during SARS-CoV-2 outbreak: our experience

    Authors

    Keywords

    venous thromboembolism, non COVID-19 patients, SARS-CoV-2 outbreak

    DOI

    https://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2021.71

    Full Text

    Background : In March 2020 formally declared pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused a global impact on public health. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) encompassing pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is frequently observed in patients with COVID-19 ( 1 ), while the pandemic influence on non COVID-19 VTE prevalence remains unknown. Previous meta -analysis supported an association between regular physical activity and lower risk of VTE when compared with a sedentary or less active lifestyle ( 2 ). Aim: to investigate the influence of pandemic circumstances on the prevalence of non COVID-19 patients hospitalized due to VTE. Patients and Methods : Single centre retrospective analysis of consecutive non COVID-19 patients admitted for VTE was performed. We compared demographic characteristics and diagnostics findings in patients hospitalized for VTE between 1st of March and 31st of October 2019 and non COVID-19 VTE patients hospitalized between the same period in 2020. All patients underwent laboratory tests, venous ultrasonography of the lower limbs and/or CT pulmonary angiography and had negative swab test for SARS-CoV2 at admission. One patient had previously recovered from COVID-19. Results : During the period of 8 months 70 VTE patients (female 48%, mean age 60.8 ± 17.2 years) were admitted in 2019, while 86 non COVID-19 VTE patients (female 50%, mean age 68.5± 16.8 years) were admitted in 2020. There was no significant difference in prevalence of VTE hospitalization (4.1% vs 5.4%, p=0.106), but patients in 2020 were significantly older (p=0.002). Dividing the VTE cases into isolated PE, isolated DVT and combined DVT+PE we found a significant increase in prevalence of DVT+PE during pandemic (34 vs 36, p=0.23; 23 vs 25, p=0.24 and 13 vs 25, p=0.03, respectively). Conclusion : During COVID 19 pandemic we observed significant increase in prevalence of hospitalized non COVID-19 patients with combined DVT+ PE but not with isolated PE or isolated DVT. Possible explanation could be a less active lifestyle due to pandemic social restriction recommendation and delaying treatment for initial DVT.

    Cardiologia Croatica
    Back to search

    Prevalence of non-COVID-19 venous thromboembolism during SARS-CoV-2 outbreak: our experience

    Extended Abstract
    Issue1-2
    Published
    Pages71
    PDF via DOIhttps://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2021.71
    venous thromboembolism
    non COVID-19 patients
    SARS-CoV-2 outbreak

    Authors

    Ana Marija Slišković*ORCIDUniversity of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
    Mislav PuljevićORCIDUniversity of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
    Ana ŠutaloORCIDUniversity of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
    Ante BosnićORCIDUniversity of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
    Ljiljana BanfićORCIDUniversity of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
    Majda Vrkić KirhmajerORCIDUniversity of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia

    Full Text

    Background : In March 2020 formally declared pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused a global impact on public health. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) encompassing pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is frequently observed in patients with COVID-19 ( 1 ), while the pandemic influence on non COVID-19 VTE prevalence remains unknown. Previous meta -analysis supported an association between regular physical activity and lower risk of VTE when compared with a sedentary or less active lifestyle ( 2 ). Aim: to investigate the influence of pandemic circumstances on the prevalence of non COVID-19 patients hospitalized due to VTE. Patients and Methods : Single centre retrospective analysis of consecutive non COVID-19 patients admitted for VTE was performed. We compared demographic characteristics and diagnostics findings in patients hospitalized for VTE between 1st of March and 31st of October 2019 and non COVID-19 VTE patients hospitalized between the same period in 2020. All patients underwent laboratory tests, venous ultrasonography of the lower limbs and/or CT pulmonary angiography and had negative swab test for SARS-CoV2 at admission. One patient had previously recovered from COVID-19. Results : During the period of 8 months 70 VTE patients (female 48%, mean age 60.8 ± 17.2 years) were admitted in 2019, while 86 non COVID-19 VTE patients (female 50%, mean age 68.5± 16.8 years) were admitted in 2020. There was no significant difference in prevalence of VTE hospitalization (4.1% vs 5.4%, p=0.106), but patients in 2020 were significantly older (p=0.002). Dividing the VTE cases into isolated PE, isolated DVT and combined DVT+PE we found a significant increase in prevalence of DVT+PE during pandemic (34 vs 36, p=0.23; 23 vs 25, p=0.24 and 13 vs 25, p=0.03, respectively). Conclusion : During COVID 19 pandemic we observed significant increase in prevalence of hospitalized non COVID-19 patients with combined DVT+ PE but not with isolated PE or isolated DVT. Possible explanation could be a less active lifestyle due to pandemic social restriction recommendation and delaying treatment for initial DVT.